{"id":1503,"date":"2026-06-11T12:04:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T12:04:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1503"},"modified":"2026-06-11T12:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T12:04:28","slug":"a-quick-look-at-the-colorado-governor-candidates-running-in-this-months-democratic-republican-primaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradospringsmoverss.com\/?p=1503","title":{"rendered":"A quick look at the Colorado governor candidates running in this month\u2019s Democratic, Republican primaries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the first time since 2018, both the Democrats and the Republicans have contested races for the top elected office in the state.<\/p>\n

On the Democratic side, longtime officeholders U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser are duking it out for their party\u2019s nomination. On the Republican side, state Rep. Scott Bottoms, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer and Victor Marx are looking to recapture the governor\u2019s mansion for the GOP for the first time in more than 20 years.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an at-a-glance look at the major party candidates in the June 30 primaries who are looking to lead Colorado for the next four years. They are listed in the order they\u2019ll appear on each ballot. The winners will face off in the November election, where voters will decide who will succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis.<\/p>\n

Republicans<\/h3>\n

Scott Bottoms | Website<\/h4>\n

A longtime lead pastor of a church in Colorado Springs, Bottoms has served two terms in the state House, and he earned top billing on the Republican primary ballot after securing the most votes at the party\u2019s statewide assembly in April.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s among the most conservative lawmakers in the state Capitol. His four years in office have been focused on pursuing antiabortion and anti-transgender policies, alongside attempts to lower the income tax. With the exception of legislation to create a new license plate, none of Bottoms\u2019 bills has been signed into law or passed a first hearing vote.<\/p>\n

Bottoms is a U.S. Navy veteran who has promised to ferret out corruption and \u201cDOGE\u201d state government \u2014 a reference to Elon Musk\u2019s agency-gutting Department of Government Efficiency at the start of President Donald Trump\u2019s second term.<\/p>\n

Victor Marx | Website<\/h4>\n

Marx is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and nonprofit leader. A political newcomer from Colorado Springs, Marx\u2019s eclectic background includes claims to be the world\u2019s fastest gun-disarmer, a mixed martial artist, a podcaster, an author and a \u201chigh-risk humanitarian\u201d working to help women and children in conflict areas.<\/p>\n

He has said he was physically abused beginning at an early age and that his stepfather forced him to murder a man when Marx was 7. He joined the military, ran mixed martial arts schools in Hawaii and later founded his nonprofit, All Things Possible Ministries.<\/p>\n

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Marx has significantly outraised his GOP opponents, avoiding debates and focusing instead on traditional conservative media and direct outreach to contact voters.<\/p>\n

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Colorado\u2019s Republican gubernatorial hopefuls finally meet for an often-surreal debate<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n