Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser secured the Democratic nomination for governor in a closely watched primary race, defeating Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) with 54.7% of the vote to Bennet's 45.3%. The victory positions Weiser as the favorite in November's general election, where Colorado has not elected a Republican to statewide office in over a decade.
Weiser's campaign focused on portraying Bennet as an establishment figure with an inconsistent voting record, particularly during the Trump administration. Bennet countered by criticizing Weiser's record as attorney general, arguing he had not sufficiently challenged Trump's policies in court. The race highlighted divisions within the Democratic Party over the best approach to countering Republican policies.
Meanwhile, Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) easily won his Democratic primary for re-election to the U.S. Senate, defeating progressive challenger Julie Gonzales with 57.3% of the vote. Hickenlooper, a former governor and Denver mayor, will face Republican state lawmaker Mark Baisley in November. Gonzales, a state senator and former member of the Democratic Socialists of America, campaigned on progressive policies such as Medicare for All and abolishing ICE, but Hickenlooper's cross-party appeal and fundraising advantage secured his victory.
The primaries also included races for U.S. House seats, state legislature positions, and local offices. Colorado's Democratic dominance in recent elections suggests Weiser and Hickenlooper are heavily favored in November.