As a state senator 1998-2005, I served in government with most of the congressional primary contenders in both the 6th CD, being vacated by Tom Tancredo, and the 2nd CD, being vacated by Mark Udall. 

Mike Coffman, Republican front-runner in the 6th, gave me a leg up to succeed him in the Senate. Ted Harvey, one of his rivals, was among my closest allies over in the House.   Joan Fitz-Gerald, battling two other Democrats in the 2nd, was Minority Leader when I was Senate President.  I think well of all of them as to abilities and character, and could say the same for Will Shafroth in the 2nd and Steve Ward in the 6th.

Yet my endorsement to the GOP nomination to succeed Tancredo is the "other guy," businessman Wil Armstrong.  And I told Denver Post readers this week my rooting interest -- not an endorsement, he wouldn't want it -- for the Dem nod to succeed Udall is also the businessman of that field, Jared Polis. 

Why those picks, the less likely picks as some might see it?  Here's my column [1] spelling out the reasons.