Typically, incumbent members of Congress cruise through re-election cycles, especially through party-heavy districts like CD-5 in El Paso County and the surrounding area. But Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn may face a serious intra-party challenge this year, from a businessman who may be able to bypass the challenges of fundraising.
Robert Blaha, president of Human Capital Associates and vice chairman of the board of Integrity Bank and Trust, said Tuesday that he has formed an exploratory committee to look at a primary challenge to Lamborn, and will make an announcement sometime this month.
“Unless we weren’t absolutely serious about this, we wouldn’t be going down this road,” Blaha said Tuesday. “We’re in the process of examining a lot of information, polls, and focus groups and some other things. We’re doing some real hard ground work.”
A source in the county GOP party said Blaha could pose a real threat to Lamborn for two reasons: Lamborn is not universally loved among county Republicans, and Blaha is wealthy enough that he could likely self-fund his entire campaign.
“A third of the party loves him. He can do no wrong. A third of the party hates him and wants him out. And the other third is kind of on the fence–you know, he votes the way I want him to, he’s okay with me, et cetera,” the source said. “So all Blaha has to do is sway enough of that third, and he’ll win.”
An internal poll from the committee, however, found that of likely primary voters, 47 percent believe Lamborn deserves to be re-elected, 34 percent want “someone new,” and 19 percent have no opinion.
The poll was conducted by Magellan Strategies, and surveyed 632 Republicans in CD-5 on Nov. 7 and 8. Of those, 89 percent said they are “extremely likely” to vote in the primary. The poll has a 4 percent margin of error.
Human Capital Associates, which Blaha founded in 1993, is a consulting company that specializes in streamlining business and government processes, and on developing leadership skills, Blaha said. He said that’s a perfect background for a Congressional candidate.
“I would come from the outside, with a totally, totally different viewpoint on what it takes to effectively run, administer and be an overseer of our tax dollars,” Blaha said.
Still, the power of incumbency is difficult to overcome. Not only that, but Blaha is a political unknown. Colorado GOP party Chairman Ryan Call said Lamborn has voted consistently with the Republican party, and Blaha will have to give primary voters a good reason to uproot the congressman.
“Most voters want to see a track record before rewarding somebody with a high federal office,” Call said.
Two of Blaha’s top issues are improving education and setting term limits for members of Congress. He said he’s been involved in starting up several charter schools, and wants to promote school choice across the nation.
Term limits, which is not exactly a popular issue in Congress, is a hot topic for Blaha. Though he declined to set a number of years or terms, he said not having term limits has allowed members of Congress to sit on their hands on many issues.
“We’ve got a permanent political class, and we have to take a real hard look at it, and say, ‘What makes sense?’” Blaha said.
And he certainly sounded as though his mind was already made up about a run.
“Stay tuned. Excitement’s coming!” Blaha said enthusiastically.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Blaha is also the Chief Management Officer and Executive Vice President Director of Alpha Security Group Corp.
Read more of his background on the ISSP Web site and at Bloomberg Businessweek.
here we go again
Anybody but Doug Lamborn.
I hope Mr. Blaha runs and does well. It’s time to get rid of all the current politicians who have been in office and not accomplished anything. Doug Lamborn is definately one of those that has not produced any results.
Blaha has the interest of this independent!
Fitting, replace an – insert disparaging word to describe Lamborn – with a guy who made a career out of laying people off.
Not sure if we’re winning here or not.
Lamborn would have been voted out of office last election if one of the contenders would have put their ego aside and supported the other. Combined they garnered 60% of the vote compared to his paltry 40%. He already would have had to get a “real job”. I hope no one else jumps on this bandwagon, as I will vote for Blaha, and don’t know a thing about him. Lamborn is a disgrace and has been nothing but an embarrassment to our fine community. Let him “eat cake” with the rest of us for a change!
The advantage of Blaha however is that if he defeats Lamborn in the primary, then maybe the Democrats can put up a candidate to defeat Blaha. I am a registered Republican who has never bothered to change his party affiliation but who hasn’t voted for one of those idiots in years. I am truly an “anybody but Lamborn” voter who will vote for Blaha and then vote for any Democrat who runs against him.
And Pat, as an Independent, you can’t vote in the primary which is where we need your vote!
Another person bought and paid for by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), http://www.alecexposed.com . You can’t fool me, Lamborn is an embarassment and the powers that be want him gone. What Blaha hasn’t realized is that there are actually Independents and Democrats here who also despise Republicans of any stripe and they will swing this election.
From one who is in power (congress) to one that wants power to make our lives miserable with their promises of we are “One with the people”. We will do this for you, then when elected (or re-elected, hope not) they do the opposite. The most important issue for me is the way congress helps themselves in pay, medical benefits, retirement benefits and other beenies that “We The People” would love to have. It’s time for us to regulate what congress gets in benefits and do away with the “Good Ole Boy System”.
I am willing to bet that Blaha has done more for job creation in the 5th District through his business model and subsequent business ventures (Integrity Bank & Trust, etc) than Lamborn has been able to create for the 5th District while sitting at the Capital. As a Republican, I think business savvy minds like Blaha are needed now more than ever given the current economic climate (unemployment rate, debt, etc)… I am “Done with Doug”!
[...] only did he sound incredibly enthusiastic with me during a conversation last week, but now he’s sending suggestive [...]
[...] I wrote about Blaha earlier this month. Check out my earlier story about Blaha here. [...]
Yes its time to replace Doug. He simply doesn’t have the leadership or personal skills to ever be anything but a Backbencher in the US House. I suspect his peers realize the guy is simply out of his league ( and considering some of the people who are members of Congress that’s saying a lot).
Basically with Robert we get the same political positions on major issues but we actually have a Congressman with a brain and the skills to potentially have some real influence in the US House.
[...] Businessman Robert Blaha announced a run against Lamborn in January, and though he’s a political unknown, he’s being taken seriously by many party insiders in large part because he’s wealthy enough to pay for his entire campaign himself. Blaha paid for a poll himself last November that show that Lamborn is slightly vulnerable, and is trying to exploit that. [...]