Mike Coffman

Robert “Mike” Coffman – Life, Career, and Notable Statements

A full biography of Mike Coffman, the American politician and veteran—from his early life and military service to his legislative and mayoral career—plus his political philosophy and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Michael Harold “Mike” Coffman (born March 19, 1955) is an American politician, veteran, and businessman. A Republican, he has held multiple offices in Colorado—including U.S. Representative, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, and currently Mayor of Aurora, Colorado.

Coffman stands out as a public servant whose career entwines military service, bipartisan efforts, and navigating shifting political landscapes. He has often been viewed as a moderate Republican, sometimes breaking with party lines, especially on issues such as immigration and veterans’ affairs.

Early Life and Family

Michael Harold Coffman was born on March 19, 1955, at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

When Coffman was about nine years old, his family moved to Aurora, Colorado.

He left formal high school early and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 17.

After military duty, he pursued higher education: he graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1979.

Alongside his public service, in 1983 Coffman founded a property management business in Aurora, which he ran until 2000.

Military Service

Coffman’s military career spanned both the Army and the Marine Corps.

• He served in the U.S. Army from 1972 to 1974 on active duty, then continued in the Army Reserve.

• In 1979, he transferred to the Marine Corps, serving as an infantry officer and later in the Marine Reserves.

• His service included two combat deployments: one during the Gulf War (1990–1991) and another to Iraq in 2005–2006.

Coffman has remarked that he considers himself fortunate to have avoided serious injury or trauma in his tours.

Political Career

State Legislature

Coffman’s political career began in Colorado’s state legislature:

• 1989–1994: Member of the Colorado House of Representatives.

• 1994–1998: Member of the Colorado State Senate, filling a vacancy and then winning election in his own right.

During his legislative tenure, he also deployed for military duty (notably during the Gulf War) and took leaves accordingly.

Statewide Office

• 1999–2007: Elected State Treasurer of Colorado (re-elected in 2002).

• In 2005, he stepped away temporarily from the treasurer role to serve in Iraq, then returned and resumed his public service.

• 2007–2009: Served as Secretary of State of Colorado.

He resigned as Secretary of State upon his election to Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

• 2009–2019: Coffman represented Colorado’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In Congress, he served on committees such as Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs.

He was viewed as fairly bipartisan: in the 114th Congress, he ranked among the more bipartisan House members.

Throughout his congressional tenure, Coffman sometimes diverged from strict party orthodoxy—most notably on immigration, veterans’ issues, and more moderate stances in certain districts.

In the 2018 midterm election, Coffman was defeated by Democrat Jason Crow.

Mayor of Aurora

After leaving Congress, Coffman ran for Mayor of Aurora, Colorado, winning election in November 2019. December 2, 2019.

In 2023, he was re-elected for a second term as mayor.

Political Philosophy, Positions & Controversies

Coffman’s political identity has blended conservative and moderate positions, and he has at times clashed with elements of his party.

Key Policy Positions & Actions

• Immigration: Coffman has sometimes broken with hardline conservative positions. He has criticized blanket bans, supported protections for DREAMers, and emphasized the human impact of immigration policy.

• Veterans’ Issues: As a veteran, Coffman prioritized legislation related to veterans’ health, benefits, and oversight of the VA. He introduced the Veterans Paralympic Act and other veterans’ reforms.

• Economic Policy: He opposed large federal stimulus packages in 2009, citing concerns over spending and deficits.

• Gun Policy: Coffman generally supported gun rights, opposed broad background checks or assault weapons bans, but indicated he would back targeted restrictions (e.g. temporary removal of weapons from those deemed dangerous).

• Net Neutrality & Tech Policy: In 2018, Coffman supported a House bill to reinstate net neutrality rules.

• Voting & Election Administration: During his tenure as Secretary of State, Coffman faced scrutiny over purged voter registration forms. Legal disputes emerged over whether certain registrations had been improperly deemed incomplete.

• Controversy over “Birther” Comment: In 2012, Coffman made statements casting doubt on President Obama’s birthplace, saying, for example, “I don’t know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America… But I do know this: that in his heart, he’s not an American.”

• Approach to Trump & Party Dynamics: Though a Republican, Coffman sometimes distanced himself from Donald Trump. During the 2016 election, he ran ads promising to “stand up” to Trump, and criticized certain Trump statements.

Coffman has frequently described partisanship as one of the greatest problems in Washington, expressing interest in more cross-party cooperation.

Personality and Qualities

• Veteran identity: His military background has deeply shaped his public image and priorities. Many of his policies reflect lived experience of service.

• Moderation & pragmatism: Coffman has sometimes taken centrist or blended positions, emphasizing compromise over rigid ideology.

• Constituent responsiveness: Especially in diverse and evolving districts, Coffman has emphasized outreach, dialogue, and listening.

• Accountability & work ethic: Coffman has noted that he seldom missed votes or hearings, especially on the Veterans Affairs committee.

• Controversial communication: His blunt or provocative remarks (especially regarding Obama) have sometimes stirred backlash, but he has also publicly addressed and apologized for them.

Notable Quotes

Here are some of Mike Coffman’s more memorable or cited remarks, which reflect his views on governance, identity, and public responsibility:

• “I don’t know whether Barack Obama was born in the United States of America. I don’t know that. But I do know this: that in his heart, he’s not an American. He’s just not an American.”

• “It’s different when you talk about immigration in the abstract … It’s very different when you sit in front of a family, and [undocumented] children who grew up in this country … They thought if we only enforce the law, people will self-deport … It’s not going to happen.”

• “I love the diversity of my district, and it does drive a fair amount of my work.”

• “What is interesting in Washington, D.C., is I’ve never missed a vote. The veterans’ committee keeps track of hearings, and I’ve never missed a hearing or a vote on the VA committee.”

• “I can’t spread myself too thin.”

Lessons & Takeaways

1. Service as foundation — Coffman’s life underscores how military service can inform, guide, and shape a political career.

2. Balance integrity and pragmatism — In changing environments, flexibility and willingness to deviate from party orthodoxy can be politically risky but also principled.

3. Importance of constituent connection — Understanding the lived experiences of people (e.g. in immigration debates) can enrich policy perspectives.

4. Own your controversies — Public figures may make missteps; how they respond (acknowledgment, apology) is part of lasting reputation.

5. Bipartisanship is rare but valued — Coffman’s repeated emphasis on moderating extremes suggests that bridging divides remains a challenge in modern politics.

Conclusion

Mike Coffman’s journey— from enlisting in the Army as a teenager, to serving in both the Army and Marine Corps, to holding multiple offices in Colorado, and now as Mayor of Aurora — is a testament to a life defined by public service, evolving political balance, and personal accountability.

He occupies a unique place among American politicians: a Republican who, in many instances, has leaned toward compromise, dissent, or moderation in a polarized era.