Phil Weiser

Phil Weiser
Born	Philip Jacob Weiser 10 5, 1968
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney General of Colorado, law professor
Known for	Founding the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship; serving as Attorney General of Colorado
Education	Swarthmore College (BA) New York University School of Law (JD)
Awards	Named among 25 most influential people in legal education by The National Jurist
Website	[philforcolorado.com Official site]

Philip Jacob Weiser (born May 10, 1968) is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and politician serving as the 39th Attorney General of Colorado since January 8, 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Weiser was elected to the office in 2018, defeating Republican George Brauchler, and was re-elected in 2022. Before entering electoral politics, Weiser built a distinguished career in legal academia as a professor of law and telecommunications at the University of Colorado Law School, where he served as the 15th dean from 2011 to 2016. He is the founder and executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship, a nationally recognized initiative at the intersection of law, technology, and innovation. Weiser also held positions in the federal government during both the Clinton and Obama administrations, working in the White House and the Department of Justice on telecommunications and technology policy. On January 2, 2025, Weiser announced his candidacy in the 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election, seeking to succeed Governor Jared Polis.

Early Life

Philip Jacob Weiser was born on May 10, 1968. Details about his childhood and family background are not extensively documented in publicly available sources. He developed an interest in law, public policy, and technology that would define the trajectory of his academic and professional career.

Education

Weiser completed his undergraduate education at Swarthmore College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended New York University School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at NYU provided a foundation in telecommunications law and federal regulatory policy that would become central to his scholarly work.

Career

Federal Government Service

Before entering academia full-time, Weiser served in the federal government during two presidential administrations. During the Clinton administration, he held positions in the White House and the United States Department of Justice, working on telecommunications and technology policy. He later returned to government service during the Obama administration, again serving in the White House. In February 2011, Weiser was involved in the Obama administration's efforts to expand wireless broadband access as part of a broader plan for technological competitiveness. His federal service informed his understanding of how government, industry, and legal frameworks intersect in the technology sector.

Academic Career at the University of Colorado

Weiser joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Law School, where he became the Hatfield Professor of Law and Telecommunications. His scholarship focused on telecommunications law, internet policy, federal regulatory structures, and the interplay between technology and governance. He published widely in leading law reviews and academic journals, contributing to the scholarly discourse on these subjects.

Among his notable publications is Digital Crossroads: Telecommunications Law and Policy in the Internet Age, published by MIT Press, which examined the evolving landscape of telecommunications regulation in the digital era. He also contributed to academic discussions on cooperative federalism and telecommunications enforcement through works published in the New York University Law Review and the Michigan Law Review. His work also appeared in the Alabama Law Review and the Colorado Law Scholarly Commons. Additionally, Weiser was associated with the Journal on Telecommunications and High Technology Law.

Weiser was also involved in scholarship related to democratic institutions and the jury system, contributing to the Oxford University Press publication The Jury and Democracy.

Founding of the Silicon Flatirons Center

One of Weiser's most significant contributions to the University of Colorado was the founding of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. The center became a hub connecting legal scholars, technologists, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to address emerging issues at the intersection of law and technology. The Silicon Flatirons Center hosted conferences, produced research, and facilitated dialogue on topics including telecommunications policy, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship. The center earned national recognition as a model for academic institutions seeking to bridge the gap between legal education and the technology sector.

Dean of the University of Colorado Law School

In June 2011, Weiser was appointed the 15th Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, succeeding David Getches. During his tenure as dean, Weiser worked to strengthen the law school's academic programs, expand its ties to the technology and entrepreneurship communities, and raise its national profile. His appointment was noted for his dual expertise in legal scholarship and technology policy.

In August 2015, Weiser announced that he would step down as dean of the University of Colorado Law School. He was succeeded by James Anaya. Following his tenure as dean, Weiser continued to serve on the law school faculty as the Hatfield Professor and as Dean Emeritus. He remained active in the Silicon Flatirons Center and continued his scholarly work.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

In January 2017, Weiser was tapped to lead a new innovation and entrepreneurship initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder, building on his work with the Silicon Flatirons Center. The initiative aimed to foster collaboration across academic disciplines and to connect the university's research capabilities with the broader innovation ecosystem.

Attorney General of Colorado

2018 Election

In May 2017, Weiser announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Colorado, seeking to succeed Republican incumbent Cynthia Coffman, who was running for governor. Running as a Democrat, Weiser campaigned on issues including consumer protection, technology policy, and defending Coloradans' interests in the federal regulatory process. He won the Democratic primary and went on to defeat Republican nominee George Brauchler in the November 6, 2018 general election. Weiser took office on January 8, 2019, becoming the 39th Attorney General of Colorado, serving under Governor Jared Polis.

First Term

As Attorney General, Weiser focused on a range of issues including consumer protection, antitrust enforcement, environmental litigation, technology policy, and civil rights. His office engaged in numerous multistate lawsuits and coalitions addressing federal policy matters.

2022 Re-election

Weiser sought and won re-election in 2022, securing a second term as Attorney General of Colorado.

Second Term and Federal Litigation

During his second term, Weiser's office became increasingly active in litigation against the federal government, particularly following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. By February 2026, reports indicated that Weiser had filed approximately 45 lawsuits against the Trump administration on behalf of the state of Colorado. These lawsuits addressed a range of issues, including clean energy funding, immigration policy, and federal spending. In one notable case, Colorado joined California in a multi-state lawsuit alleging violations of congressional funding laws related to federal clean energy programs.

Weiser's office also addressed immigration enforcement matters during this period. In early 2026, the Colorado Attorney General's office launched a new section of its public complaint system allowing residents to report misconduct by federal immigration enforcement agents, including ICE. In February 2026, Weiser spoke publicly about concerns regarding a federal court ruling that opened the door for sharing Medicaid data with federal immigration agencies, calling the situation a "terrible choice" and warning of potential consequences for immigrant communities and public health programs in Colorado.

Commentators noted Weiser's role in what was described as an effort to preserve democratic norms and the rule of law in the face of federal executive action. Colorado Newsline characterized the work of state attorneys general like Weiser as part of a broader effort to check federal executive power and protect constitutional processes, particularly in the context of concerns about potential federal interference in elections.

2026 Gubernatorial Campaign

On January 2, 2025, Weiser announced his candidacy in the 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election, seeking to succeed term-limited Governor Jared Polis. Weiser entered the Democratic primary alongside other candidates, including U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. The race drew attention as both candidates sought to articulate competing visions for the state's future.

By January 2026, Weiser's campaign reported having received more than 200 endorsements from current and former state and local elected officials, which his campaign described as the most endorsements from such officials of any candidate in the race.

During the campaign, Weiser sought to engage voters across the state, including in more conservative and rural regions. In February 2026, he published an op-ed in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel emphasizing the importance of political leaders visiting and listening to communities throughout Colorado, including the Western Slope.

Affordable housing emerged as a central issue in the Democratic primary. Both Weiser and Bennet presented proposals addressing Colorado's housing affordability challenges, with the state ranking among the ten least affordable for housing in the nation. The candidates sparred over the best approach to the crisis in public forums and through media coverage.

Recognition

Weiser's contributions to legal education and telecommunications law have received recognition from various organizations. The National Jurist named him among the 25 most influential people in legal education. His work with the Silicon Flatirons Center was recognized as an innovative model for connecting law schools with the technology and entrepreneurship sectors.

His scholarly work has been published in numerous leading law reviews and academic journals, and his book Digital Crossroads, published by MIT Press, contributed to the national conversation on telecommunications law and policy in the digital age.

Legacy

As of 2026, Weiser's career spans the intersections of legal scholarship, technology policy, and public service. His founding of the Silicon Flatirons Center at the University of Colorado established a model for interdisciplinary engagement between law schools, the technology industry, and policymakers. His tenure as dean of the University of Colorado Law School and his subsequent leadership of the university's innovation and entrepreneurship initiative further demonstrated his approach to integrating academic institutions with the broader innovation economy.

As Attorney General, Weiser's office became one of the more active state legal offices in challenging federal executive actions, particularly during the Trump administration's second term. His role in multistate litigation coalitions and his efforts to protect state-level policy prerogatives in areas such as clean energy, immigration, and consumer protection became defining features of his tenure.

Weiser's 2026 gubernatorial campaign represents an extension of his career trajectory from academia and legal policy into electoral politics and executive governance. The outcome of the race will further shape his legacy in Colorado politics.