2026 Colorado gubernatorial election
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is ineligible to seek re-election to a third consecutive term. Primary elections will take place June 30, 2026.[1]
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November 3, 2026
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The Republican Party has not won a gubernatorial election in Colorado since 2002 nor a statewide office since 2016.[2]
Democratic primary
Candidates
To move forward to the primary, candidates had to petition onto the ballot or achieve 30% or more at the Colorado Democratic Party State Assembly. Michael Bennet was the only candidate to petition onto the primary ballot. All other candidates went through the State Assembly process. Phil Weiser was the only candidate to achieve 30% or more.[3] Bennet's petition was deemed sufficient on March 24, 2026.[4]
Declared
- Michael Bennet, U.S. senator (2009–present)[5]
- Phil Weiser, attorney general of Colorado (2019–present)[6]
Declined
- Jason Crow, U.S. representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Bennet)[7][8]
- Jena Griswold, secretary of state of Colorado (2019–present) (running for attorney general)[9]
- Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver (2023–present) and candidate for governor in 2018[10] (endorsed Bennet)[5]
- Joe Neguse, U.S. representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district (2019–present) and nominee for secretary of state in 2014 (running for re-election; endorsed Bennet)[7][8]
Endorsements
Michael Bennet
- U.S. senators
- John Hickenlooper, Colorado (2021–present)[5]
- U.S. representatives
- Jason Crow, CO-06 (2019–present)[5]
- Joe Neguse, CO-02 (2019–present)[5]
- Brittany Pettersen, CO-07 (2023–present)[11]
- State legislators
- Brianna Buentello, former HD-47 (2019–2021)[12]
- James Coleman, president of the Colorado Senate (2025–present) from SD-33 (2021–present)[13]
- Daneya Esgar, former majority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives (2021–2023) from HD-46 (2015–2023)[12]
- Steve Fenberg, former president of the Colorado Senate (2022–2025) from SD-18 (2017–2025)[14]
- Leroy Garcia, former president of the Colorado Senate (2019–2022) from SD-03 (2015–2022)[12]
- Nick Hinrichsen, SD-03 (2022–present)[12]
- Tisha Mauro, state representative from HD-46 (2023–present)[12]
- Julie McCluskie, speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives (2023–present) from HD-13 (2019–present)[13]
- Sal Pace, former HD-46 (2009–2012)[12]
- Local officials
- Michael Hancock, former mayor of Denver (2011–2023)[15]
- Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver (2023–present)[13]
- Wellington Webb, former mayor of Denver (1991–2003)[15]
- Labor unions
Phil Weiser
- Executive branch officials
- Federico Peña, former secretary of energy (1997–1998)[11]
- U.S. senators
- U.S. representatives
- Ed Perlmutter, former CO-07 (2007–2023)[19]
- David Skaggs, former CO-02 (1987–1999)[11]
- Statewide officials
- Roy Romer, former governor of Colorado (1987–1999)[20]
- State legislators
- Morgan Carroll, former president of the Colorado Senate (2015–2017) from SD-29 (2013–2019)[11]
- Brandon Shaffer, former president of the Colorado Senate (2009–2013) from SD-17 (2005–2013)[11]
- Terrance Carroll, former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives (2009–2011) from HD-07 (2003–2011)[11]
- Local officials
- Jennifer Arndt, former mayor of Fort Collins (2021–2026)[21]
- Individuals
- Dottie Lamm, former first lady of Colorado (1975–1987)[20]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Indivisible Colorado[23]
- Newspapers
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Michael Bennet |
Phil Weiser |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D)[25][A] | June 24–25, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 36% | 45% | 19% |
| Public Policy Polling (D)[26][A] | June 1–2, 2026 | 505 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 36% | 30% | 34% |
| Colorado Community Research[27] | May 22–28, 2026 | 796 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 34% | 41% | 25% |
| Keating Research[28][B] | January 26 – February 1, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 53% | 26% | 21% |
| Global Strategy Group (D)[29][C] | June 9–11, 2025 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 53% | 22% | 25% |
Hypothetical polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[a] |
Margin of error |
Jena Griswold |
Joe Neguse |
Ken Salazar |
Phil Weiser |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthier Colorado (D)/ Magellan Strategies (R)[30] |
December 4–9, 2024 | 630 (LV) | ± 3.9% | 16% | 20% | 11% | 8% | 8% | 37% |
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Democratic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
||||||
| Michael Bennet | Phil Weiser | |||||
| 1 | May 7, 2026 | Colorado Public Radio KMGH-TV The Denver Post |
Colette Bordelon Nick Coltrain Ryan Warner |
YouTube | P | P |
| 2 | Jun. 4, 2026 | Colorado Politics KUSA University of Denver |
Kyle Clark Marshall Zelinger |
YouTube | P | P |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Michael Bennet | |||
| Democratic | Phil Weiser | |||
| Total votes | ||||
Republican primary
Candidates
To move forward to the primary, candidates had to petition onto the ballot or achieve 30% or more at the Colorado Republican Party State Assembly. Barbara Kirkmeyer was the only candidate to petition onto the primary ballot. Her petition was deemed sufficient on April 15, 2026.[31] All other candidates went through the State Assembly process. Scott Bottoms and Victor Marx were the only candidates to achieve 30% or more.[32]
Declared
- Scott Bottoms, state representative from the 15th district (2023–present)[33]
- Barbara Kirkmeyer, state senator from the 23rd district (2021–present), candidate for Colorado's 4th congressional district in 2014, and nominee for Colorado's 8th congressional district in 2022[34][32]
- Victor Marx, ministry leader[35]
Eliminated at convention
- Jason Clark, money manager, candidate for governor in 2014 and independent candidate in 2010[36]
- Joshua Griffin, research and development firm founder and candidate for Colorado's 5th congressional district in 2024[35]
- Will McBride, attorney[35]
- Jason Mikesell, Teller County Sheriff[37]
Withdrawn
- Mark Baisley, state senator from the 4th district (2023–present) (running for U.S. senate)[38]
- Greg Lopez, former U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2024–2025) and candidate for governor in 2018 and 2022 (running as an Independent)[38]
- Joe Oltmann, podcaster[39]
Endorsements
Barbara Kirkmeyer
- U.S. representatives
- Gabe Evans, CO-08 (2025–present)[40]
- Scott McInnis, former CO-03 (1993–2005)[40]
- Statewide officials
- Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (1999–2007)[41]
- John Suthers, former attorney general of Colorado (2005–2015)[40]
- Local officials
- Mike Coffman, mayor of Aurora (2019–present)[40]
- Newspapers
Victor Marx
- Executive branch officials
- Michael Flynn, former national security advisor (2017)[44]
- U.S. representatives
- Lauren Boebert, CO-04 (2021–present)[35]
- Statewide officials
- Heidi Ganahl, former member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents from the at-large district (2017–2023) and 2022 gubernatorial nominee[45]
- Individuals
- Ted Nugent, rock musician[44]
Polling
Debates
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican | Republican |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn |
|||||||
| Scott Bottoms | Barbara Kirkmeyer | Victor Marx | |||||
| 1 | May 14, 2026 | Colorado Public Radio KMGH-TV The Denver Post |
John Aguilar Colette Bordelon Bazi Kanani |
YouTube | P | P | A |
| 2 | Jun. 2, 2026 | Colorado Politics KUSA University of Denver |
Kyle Clark Marshall Zelinger |
YouTube | P | P | P |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Scott Bottoms | |||
| Republican | Barbara Kirkmeyer | |||
| Republican | Victor Marx | |||
| Total votes | ||||
Third party candidates
Candidates
Filed paperwork
- Stephen Hamilton (American Constitution)[48]
- Frederick Osborne, actor (No Labels)[49]
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Greg Lopez, former U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2024–2025) and candidate for governor in 2018 and 2022 (previously ran as a Republican)[38]
Filed paperwork
Withdrawn
- Shawn Bennett[52]
Declined
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Elections[54] | Solid D | August 28, 2025 |
| Race to the WH[55] | Likely D | June 19, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[56] | Solid D | June 5, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[57] | Safe D | September 4, 2025 |
| The Cook Political Report[58] | Solid D | September 11, 2025 |
See also
Notes
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
- Partisan clients