Democrat Brian Mason, the 17th Judicial District attorney for Broomfield and Adams County, on Wednesday endorsed fellow elected prosecutor Michael Dougherty for Colorado attorney general in next year’s Democratic primary, saying Dougherty’s leadership on critical public safety issues facing the state make him the right candidate for the job.

Dougherty, the Boulder district attorney and a former top prosecutor in the attorney general’s office, is one of three Democrats campaigning for the job held by term-limited Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026.

“Michael is a person of integrity and grit who will lead this important office with empathy, honor and an abiding commitment to the rule of law,” Mason said in a statement released by Dougherty’s campaign.

“As fellow district attorneys, Michael and I have partnered on some of the toughest public safety issues facing our state, including gun violence, fentanyl and human trafficking,” Mason added. “On each of these topics and more, Michael has been a thoughtful and impactful leader — and it’s this kind of leadership that we need in our next attorney general.”

Mason, who until recently considered making his own run for attorney general, joins a dozen other current and former district attorneys and seven current and former county sheriffs backing Dougherty.

Dougherty said in a statement that he was proud to have Mason’s support.

“Brian and I have worked together to address statewide issues from reducing gun violence and banning ghost guns to holding offenders accountable and standing up for survivors of domestic violence,” Dougherty said. “I look forward to continuing to work with Brian and the dozens of other leaders, from district attorneys to law enforcement to mayors and state elected officials, who share our commitment to justice, community safety, and protecting the rights of all Coloradans.”

The other Democrats running for attorney general are Secretary of State Jena Griswold and former House Speaker Crisanta Duran. Another Democrat, David Seligman, executive director of Towards Justice, a Denver-based nonprofit law firm that represents workers in litigation, could also join the field.

Griswold, who jumped in the primary earlier this month, counts endorsements from two current or former district attorneys, including one she shares with Dougherty — 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden, who prosecutes cases in Arapahoe County, and former Boulder DA Stan Garnett, who lost a bid for attorney general in 2010 and is also endorsing Dougherty in next year’s race.

The only Republican in the race so far is political newcomer Connor Pennington. GOP sources tell Colorado Politics that House Majority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, and El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen are considering runs.