Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has successfully secured the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in Tuesday's primary election. Weiser's victory halts Bennet's bid to transition from the U.S. Senate to the governor's mansion and establishes Weiser as the leading candidate to succeed the term-limited Democratic Governor Jared Polis.
Weiser's triumph over Bennet, a three-term senator and former 2020 presidential hopeful, represents a significant upset in one of the year's most closely observed Democratic primaries. The Democratic nominee typically holds a strong advantage in November's general election within a state where Democrats have consistently performed well in recent statewide contests.
This outcome also means Senator Bennet is now expected to retain his position in the Senate, thereby averting a potentially contentious vacancy battle that would have ensued had he won the governorship in the general election.
Primary Upset and Campaign Narratives
The primary contest pitted two prominent Colorado Democrats against each other: Senator Bennet, with his extensive tenure in the Senate and national political experience, and Attorney General Weiser, who has served two terms as the state's top legal officer. Governor Polis, a Democrat, is constitutionally barred from seeking another term after eight years in office.
Throughout his campaign, Weiser emphasized his commitment to legal principles, justice, and public service. According to his campaign, as governor, he would continue to champion the rule of law, safeguard democratic institutions, and promote fairness for all residents of Colorado.
Senator Bennet, during his campaign, articulated that a shift to the governor's office would enable him to more effectively oppose federal policies and advance state-level initiatives. Conversely, Weiser leveraged his background as Colorado's Attorney General and his extensive legal expertise to advocate for his own candidacy.
Key Endorsements and Political Landscape
Senator Bennet entered the primary contest with considerable backing from the Colorado Democratic establishment. His campaign highlighted endorsements from more than 200 state leaders, including fellow U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen, alongside various state legislative leaders and organized labor groups.
In contrast, Attorney General Weiser's campaign garnered support from a different segment of the party, proudly listing endorsements from figures such as former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, former U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, former U.S. Senator Tim Wirth, and a broad collection of local officials, state legislators, and progressive organizations.
On the Republican side, Barb Kirkmeyer was leading the gubernatorial primary as the Democratic results were announced. Regardless of whether Kirkmeyer or her trailing rivals, Victor Marx or Scott Bottoms, ultimately secure the GOP nomination, the Republican candidate is anticipated to face a challenging campaign against Phil Weiser in the general election this November.
