The GOP's path to a Senate majority could run through Colorado if other Trump-endorsed Republican candidates end up blowing winnable races.

What's happening: Construction company owner Joe O'Dea, the GOP's nominee against Sen. Michael Bennet, is a political unicorn for the party at a time when Republican voters prefer MAGA-aligned candidates.

In an interview, O'Dea called himself a pro-choice centrist who's running a campaign focused on tackling inflation and cracking down on crime.

Between the lines: If Republicans can't win in Pennsylvania, Arizona or Georgia — battleground states where Republicans are worried about their candidates — they'll need to pick off a bluer state like Colorado.

Zoom out: During the primary, Democrats attempted to boost O'Dea's right-wing challenger Ron Hanks — viewing him as a more favorable general-election matchup.

Outside Democratic groups spent over $4 million on television ads casting O'Dea as a Democrat in disguise, citing his previous donations to former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Bennet along with his support for President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure package.

The other side: Bennet went up with the first ad of his re-election campaign this week, touting his efforts to ban members of Congress from becoming lobbyists or making personal stock trades. He's trying to showcase his independence from Washington at a time when disillusioned voters are inclined to vote out the party in power.