Michelle Gray, the chair of the Pueblo County GOP, has filed to run for Colorado House District 60.

Gray’s announcement begs a question, however, on the status of the current member of the House who represents HD 60: three-term Rep. Stephanie Luck, R-Penrose.

Luck has yet to file for another term in the state House, despite lopsided margins of victory in 2022 and 2024. Luck also won the 2020 contest for House District 47, before the district was redrawn, and she was drawn into HD 60 in 2021.

She has been aligned with the far right of the House Republican caucus.

Rumors have been circulating for more than a month that Luck would not seek another term and that she might be interested in other opportunities, such as running for the state Senate, given Sen. Mark Baisley’s decision to run for governor instead of seeking another term.

Luck did not return a call for comment.

Should Luck decide not to run for another term in the House, she would join at least eight other members of the House who are term-limited and another three members who are running for different offices.

Gray noted in a press release Thursday that Luck had not filed for re-election. Gray said she “is the lone Patriot” in the race to succeed Luck.

“This has long been in my thoughts, and regardless of the social media attacks on my decision, this was a decision that I came to through prayer and consultation with my family,” Gray explained.

Gray said she intends to challenge the status quo in Denver and to put a laser-like focus on flipping other seats in the House. “In a safe Republican district like HD 60, it offers a platform to do good work” for other members of the House who don’t have the luxury or political capital to ensure other wins in the upcoming election, she said.

The social media attacks Gray referenced include comments on X from FreeState Colorado, which noted Gray’s entry into the race on X Wednesday. “In a cold, backstabbing move, Colorado’s establishment Republicans have launched a Primary campaign to unseat Rep. Luck,” the post said, which included a picture of Benedict Arnold.

Gray is the only candidate so far to file for House District 60. She had previously run for Pueblo County treasurer in 2022.