John Walsh

John Walsh, Colorado’s former U.S. attorney, announced Tuesday morning that he is joining the growing list of Democrats trying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner.

Walsh made the news public in a video posted on YouTube.

Walsh was appointed Colorado’s top federal prosecutor by President Barack Obama and held the position for six years before leaving to return to private practice in 2016.

Last month, Walsh announced he was leaving his high-powered job at the Denver office of WilmerHale to consider jumping into the race.

Walsh has never been elected to public office and will face a name recognition hurdle as he vies against better-known Democratic candidates in the primary. His announcement comes less than 24 hours after Dan Baer, an Obama-era diplomat, announced his candidacy.

MORE: Here’s who’s running to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020 — and who’s thinking about it



In his announcement video, Walsh touted his record as U.S. attorney pushing back against big banks and drug companies.

“Today, one of the biggest challenges we face is our president,” he said of Donald Trump.

The race to unseat Gardner is expected to be among the most watched congressional contests in the nation next year.

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