Former Rep. Tancredo launching third-party governor bid in Colorado

Former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) is launching a third-party bid for governor, the Denver Post reported Monday. 

The ex-congressman and long-shot 2008 presidential candidate said he would run as a candidate of the American Constitution Party: 

“I will officially announce at noon that I will seek the nomination of the constitution party,” Tancredo told The Denver Post.

The Littleton Republican must file some papers with the Colorado Secretary of State and register as a member of the American Constitution Party, but then “he’s ready to go,” raising money, disclosing his platform and launching a website that is already put together.

Tancredo’s announcement comes after he warned GOP candidates, former Rep. Scott McInnis and Dan Maes, that he would run if the winner of the primary was trailing behind Democratic front-runner John Hickenlooper, who is mayor of Denver.

GOP operatives believe that Tancredo’s candidacy could ruin their chances of winning the open-seat race. Republicans viewed the seat as a pick-up opportunity after Gov. Bill Ritter (D) decided not to run for reelection early this year. 

McInnis recently found himself in hot water after it was reported large sections of articles that appeared under his name were plagiarized. 

During his time in Congress, Tancredo was known as a staunch opponent of illegal immigration. He declined to run for reelection in 2008.