(DENVER) – Today Congressman Ed Perlmutter officially ended his bid to become the next Governor of Colorado, signifying a drastic shift leftward for Colorado’s Democratic party. This announcement comes on the heels of Congressman Jared Polis’ entrance into the Democratic primary a few weeks ago. Congressman Polis, former State Senator Michael Johnston, and former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy all remain in the primary race for now.

Congressman Perlmutter was seen as the most centrist of the field, and in a highly charged political climate made the assessment continuing to pursue the office was no longer realistic.

According to 9 NEWS’ reporter, Marshall Zellinger, Perlmutter said: “When Polis got in I had to take a deep look down, see what it would take to win this race.”

“Congressman Perlmutter’s withdrawal from the race for Colorado’s top post shows just how far to the left the Democratic base has shifted,” said Kelly Maher, executive director of Compass Colorado. “It started with “democratic socialist” Bernie Sanders’ delegates sweeping the caucuses across the state last year, and now even a left-leaning center-left candidate can’t see a path to victory in this clown car primary.”

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