Cory Gardner Swaps Races With Ken Buck, Will Challenge Mark Udall

Udall's Path To Reelection Gets More Challenging As GOP Candidates Swap Races
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 30: Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., questions HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during her testimony before a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Rayburn Building on the failures of Affordable Care Act's enrollment website. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 30: Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., questions HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during her testimony before a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Rayburn Building on the failures of Affordable Care Act's enrollment website. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

The Colorado Senate race just got a lot more interesting.

Rep. Cory Gardner, a rising Republican star, will jump into the race to challenge Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), the Denver Post reported Wednesday, while District Attorney Ken Buck will drop his Senate bid and instead run for Gardner's House seat.

The GOP field vying to unseat Udall had included District Attorney Ken Buck, state Rep. Amy Stephens and state Sen. Owen Hill. The Greeley Tribune reported Wednesday that Gardner and Buck are swapping races.

Democrats have been hoping that Buck, who is known for making controversial statements, would win the GOP nomination again, as he did before he lost to Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) in 2010.

Recent polling had shown Udall with a narrow lead over Buck.

Gardner defeated former Democratic Rep. Betsy Markey in 2010 and retained his congressional seat in 2012. He sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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