Colorado’s political landscape shifted dramatically Tuesday as voters delivered a series of stunning verdicts that reshaped the state’s Democratic hierarchy. In the night’s most surprising outcome, Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated three-term U.S. Senator Michael Bennet for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, a result that few predicted just months ago.
Weiser, who trailed by double digits in early polling, turned the race on its head by painting Bennet as a Washington insider out of touch with everyday Coloradans. The attorney general’s victory speech struck a populist chord, promising to bring “new blood” to the governor’s mansion. With 77% of votes counted, Weiser held a commanding 55% to 43% lead.
The governor’s race wasn’t the only contest where generational tensions boiled over. In Denver’s liberal 1st Congressional District, 29-year-old democratic socialist Melat Kiros mounted a surprisingly strong challenge against 68-year-old incumbent Diana DeGette, a fixture in Colorado politics since 1996. The race remained too close to call late Tuesday, with Kiros leading by a razor-thin margin.
Senator John Hickenlooper, 74, successfully fended off a primary challenge from state Senator Julie Gonzales, 43, winning by double digits. The former governor and Denver mayor will face Republican Mark Baisley in November.
The Republican side saw fewer fireworks. State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer led the GOP gubernatorial primary over state Representative Scott Bottoms and retired Marine Victor Marx. In the 3rd Congressional District, incumbent Jeff Hurd, endorsed by President Trump, defeated former state Representative Ron Hanks.
Voters across the state cited a desire for change as their motivation. “I want to get rid of the old dudes,” joked Wes Paschall, a Fort Collins voter who cast his ballot for Weiser. “I am one, but I want to get rid of them and get some new blood in there.”
The results underscore Colorado’s evolution from a swing state to a solidly Democratic stronghold, where the most competitive races now happen within the party itself. Political analysts attribute this shift to a growing population of young, college-educated voters who are pushing the party further left.
