Face The State Staff Report
Denver businessman Hollis Cleve Tidwell is an underdog for next year's 2010 Republican U.S. Senate nomination. Making the primary ballot won't be as easy for him as it was at last year's Senate District 35 assembly where he earned top line before exiting the race days later.
Party faithful gave Tidwell top ballot placement over fellow Republican Bob Lane, 65 percent to 35 percent. But shortly thereafter, Tidwell dropped out of the running. “I just felt it was foolish to run with such short notice after I had considered it, so I offered to Bob that I would step aside so that he could actually run unchallenged and hopefully we would have a chance at [the seat],” Tidwell told Face The State in a phone message. “Of course I supported [Bob] and helped him any way I could. It was just too early for me to be involved in that race.”
The Secretary of State’s Office had sent Tidwell a letter March 24, 2008 requesting he submit a candidate affidavit and personal financial disclosure. But Tidwell had already decided to step aside.
A year later, Tidwell announced his intention to run for U.S. Senate against Democrat Michael Bennet, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter in January. Tidwell must first face Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier and Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck in a Republican primary.
Before settling on running for U.S. Senate, insiders say Tidwell also considered a bid for the 1st Congressional District and governor.
Tidwell said he intends to gain access to the primary ballot through the Republican state convention next year. Out of the approximately 3,500 delegates, he will need to earn the support of 1,050, or 30 percent, in order to appear on the primary ballot. When Tidwell qualified in SD 35 he received the support of 266 of 410 delegates.
Tidwell has said he may consider petitioning on to the primary ballot should he fall short of the required 30 percent at the state convention. Petitioning would not be an option should he receive less than 10 percent delegate support at the convention.