Colorado economist unveils bid to replace Perlmutter in Congress

The president and CEO of Denver-based Economics Partners announced on Thursday he was running for Colorado's 7th Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Ed Perlmutter.

Timothy Reichert, a Republican who has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, used $500,000 of his personal money to kickstart his bid and will likely self-fund his campaign, according to The Colorado Sun.

"I have studied the economy my entire life and I know what it will take to get our country and our middle class back on their feet," Reichert said in a statement on Thursday, the Sun reported.

"I promise to be a new voice and problem solver for our district because I know we can champion the middle class and challenge the status quo that is failing us in Washington," he added.

Perlmutter announced earlier this month he wouldn't seek reelection. The 7th District is more competitive now after Colorado went through its one-a-decade redistricting, the Sun noted, though it is forecast to favor Democrats by 7 points.

State Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D) is also running to fill Perlmutter's place, and two Republicans, Army veteran Erik Aadland and Laurel Imer, a 2020 delegate for former President Trump, have already announced that they would try to replace him, the newspaper also said.

Colorado's 2022 primary elections is scheduled for June 28.