This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at cpr.org.

DENVER | CU Regent Wanda James is running for Congress in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, which covers Denver. To make that bid, she intends to primary long-time Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette.

James is expected to formally launch her campaign later today.

“It’s time, right? We’ve seen Democrats nationwide asking for people who are going to fight for democracy, fight for our brand,” James told CPR News about why she’s jumping in now. “This is not a time for us just to have somebody that votes well as a Democrat. It’s time for us to change this brand, to get people excited again about what it is that Democrats do.”

James said Denver has changed over the last 30 years that DeGette

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