Adam Frisch, a former Aspen city councilman and a businessman, is running for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district as a conservative Democrat. He hopes to appeal to the voters who are tired of the extreme polarization and the lack of representation in the district.
Frisch’s background and platform
Frisch was born and raised in New York City, where he worked as a financial analyst and a consultant. He moved to Aspen in 2004 and served on the city council from 2011 to 2019. He owns a real estate development company and a restaurant in Aspen.
Frisch describes himself as a “pro-normal party” candidate who can work across the aisle and find common ground on the issues that matter to the district. He supports Colorado’s water rights, domestic energy production, and job creation. He also opposes the reintroduction of wolves in the state, which he says was a mistake and a threat to the livestock industry.
Frisch says he is running for Congress because he believes the district needs a representative who can listen to the people and deliver results, not just rhetoric. He says he is not afraid to challenge his own party or the status quo when necessary.
Frisch’s campaign and challenges
Frisch launched his campaign in July 2022, after narrowly losing to Republican Lauren Boebert in the 2020 election. He raised more than $11 million in the 2023 cycle, making him one of the most well-funded candidates in the race.
However, Frisch faces several challenges in his bid for the 3rd district, which covers most of the western and southern parts of Colorado. The district is historically Republican-leaning and has not elected a Democrat since 2008. Frisch also has to contend with the allegations of blackmail that surfaced in October 2022, when a former taxi company owner claimed he had a video of Frisch having an affair and used it to influence his vote on a transportation deal in 2018. Frisch denied the allegations and called them a lie and a smear tactic.
Frisch is also competing with two other Democrats in the primary: state Sen. Kerry Donovan and former state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush. Donovan is a rancher and a teacher who represents a rural district in the state Senate. She has the endorsement of several prominent Democrats, including former Gov. John Hickenlooper and former U.S. Sen. Mark Udall. Mitsch Bush is a former county commissioner and a professor who ran against Boebert in 2020 and lost by six points. She has the support of several labor unions and environmental groups.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face one of the three Republicans who are vying for the nomination: state Sen. Cleave Simpson, state Rep. Perry Will, or former state Rep. Bob Rankin. Simpson is a farmer and a water expert who serves as the president of the Colorado River District. Will is a former wildlife officer and a veteran who represents a rural district in the state House. Rankin is a former budget committee chair and a retired engineer who served in the state House and the state Senate.
The primary election is scheduled for June 28, 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024.
Frisch’s vision and message
Frisch says he wants to bring a new perspective and a pragmatic approach to Congress. He says he is not interested in partisan politics or ideological battles, but in solving problems and serving the people of the 3rd district.
Frisch says he believes in the values of hard work, personal responsibility, and community. He says he respects the diversity and the history of the district, and he wants to preserve its natural beauty and its way of life.
Frisch says he is confident that he can win the trust and the support of the voters in the 3rd district, regardless of their party affiliation or their background. He says he is ready to be their voice and their advocate in Washington, D.C.
