GOP state Rep. Ron Hanks, a 2020 election denier, to challenge U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet

Republican State Rep. Ron Hanks of Penrose, an outspoken 2020 predetermination denier who attended the Jan. 6 rally astatine the U.S. Capitol, filed national paperwork Friday to situation Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet successful 2022.

Hanks is simply a comparative newcomer to Colorado politics, archetypal elected to the statehouse past November. He puzzled chap lawmakers by not showing up for the commencement of the 2020 legislative session, and astatine the adjacent of the league helium forced a ballot of the House GOP caucus successful an unsuccessful attempt to oust Minority Leader Hugh McKean.

Hanks besides joked astir lynching connected the level of the House successful April, prompting criticism from Democrats and Black lawmakers successful particular.

Colorado Politics archetypal reported Hanks’ candidacy. He did not instrumentality a telephone telephone from The Denver Post connected Friday.

This is his 2nd tally for national office. In 2010, moving nether the sanction Loren Hanks, helium mislaid successful a bid to correspond California’s 1st Congressional District.

Other Republican candidates trying to instrumentality Bennet’s see Erik Aadland, Eli Bremer, Karen Breslin, Juli Henry and Peter Yu.