Jump to content

2026 Colorado gubernatorial election

Add links
Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Colorado gubernatorial election
← 2022
November 3, 2026
2030 →
 
Party Democratic Republican
Incumbent Governor

Jared Polis
Democratic



The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. The primary elections will take place on June 30, 2026.[1] Incumbent Democratic Governor Jared Polis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.

Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in Colorado since Bill Owens was re-elected in 2002.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Michael Bennet

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

State legislators

Local officials

Phil Weiser

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Individuals

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Michael
Bennet 		Phil
Weiser 		Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[17][A] 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)[18] 		December 4–9, 2024 630 (LV) ± 3.9% 16% 20% 11% 8% 8% 37%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Filed paperwork

  • Stevan Gess[25]
  • Jon Gray-Ginsberg, candidate for governor in 2022[26]
  • Robin Jones[27]

Withdrawn

Endorsements

Barbara Kirkmeyer
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
Victor Marx
Executive branch officials
U.S. representatives
Statewide officials
Individuals

Third party candidates

Candidates

Filed paperwork

Independents

Candidates

Declared

Filed paperwork

Withdrawn

Declined

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[38] Solid D December 20, 2025
Inside Elections[39] Solid D January 16, 2026
Sabato's Crystal Ball[40] Safe D September 4, 2025
Race to the WH[41] Likely D January 23, 2026

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll sponsored by Bennet's campaign

References

  1. ^ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kim, Caitlyn (April 11, 2025). "Sen. Michael Bennet is officially running for governor". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ^ Paul, Jesse (January 2, 2025). "Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser launches 2026 campaign for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Woodruff, Chase (April 11, 2025). "Michael Bennet upends race with Colorado governor bid". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved April 12, 2025. Rumored contenders for governor in 2026 had included Salazar, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, and U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse and Jason Crow...Neguse and Crow both quickly endorsed Bennet on Friday morning
  5. ^ a b Luning, Ernest (May 9, 2025). "Fields for Colorado's top 2026 statewide, congressional races begin to take shape". Colorado Politics. Retrieved May 9, 2025. Every incumbent member of Congress from Colorado who is up for election next year is seeking another term
  6. ^ Paul, Jesse (April 7, 2025). "Jena Griswold is running to be Colorado's next attorney general". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 7, 2025. Griswold was also considering a 2026 bid to be Colorado's next governor. But those plans changed in the wake of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet's expected gubernatorial candidacy.
  7. ^ Zornio, Trish (April 1, 2024). "Zornio: These 6 women could replace Jared Polis in 2026. They're not who you think". The Colorado Sun. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024. Johnston has promised not to [run for governor] on the heels of his election.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Democrat Brittany Pettersen throws support behind Michael Bennet in Colorado's gubernatorial primary". Colorado Politics. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Paul, Jesse (April 11, 2025). "Michael Bennet's campaign for Colorado governor has officially begun. So has the power struggle to fill his Senate seat". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Bartolo, James. "Weiser talks affordability, Pueblo ahead of 2026 gubernatorial primary". Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  11. ^ a b McRae, Jennifer (April 11, 2025). "Sen. Michael Bennet announces campaign for governor of Colorado". CBS News. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  12. ^ "Democrat Brittany Pettersen throws support behind Michael Bennet in Colorado's gubernatorial primary". Colorado Politics. October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  13. ^ Paul, Jesse (January 2, 2025). "Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser launches 2026 campaign for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Farnan, Katie. "Democratic Governors Healey, Stein, and Ferguson Endorse Phil Weiser for Governor of Colorado". Phil for Colorado. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  15. ^ a b Solender, Andrew; Frank, John; Neukam, Stephen. "Scoop: Michael Bennet to launch bid for Colorado governor". Axios. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  16. ^ Farnan, Katie. "Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Joins Former Attorneys General and Current Democratic Governors Endorsing Phil Weiser for Governor of Colorado". Phil for Colorado. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  17. ^ Baumann, Andrew; Teitelbaum, Joey (June 13, 2025). "New Polling Finds Bennet with a Wide Lead in Colorado Dem Governor Primary" (PDF). Global Strategy Group. Retrieved June 17, 2025 – via www.michaelbennet.com.
  18. ^ Zelinger, Marshall (November 16, 2024). "Poll shows Rep. Joe Neguse leading Democratic candidates in race for Colorado governor". KUSA. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Paul, Jesse (January 20, 2025). "Scott Bottoms, Republican state representative, will run for Colorado governor in 2026". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
  20. ^ Metzger, Hannah (January 22, 2025). "Third Time's the Charm? Jason Clark Is Running for Colorado Governor...Again". Westword. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c d Luning, Ernest (October 3, 2025). "Ministry founder, 'high-risk' missionary Victor Marx joins Colorado's Republican gubernatorial primary". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  22. ^ Paul, Jesse (September 9, 2025). "Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer is running to be Colorado's next governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  23. ^ Watson, Lauren (March 13, 2025). "Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell running for Colorado governor". KKTV. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  24. ^ Luning, Ernest (December 27, 2025). "Colorado podcaster who has called for political foes to be executed joins GOP primary for governor". 9News. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
  25. ^ "Candidate registration for Steven Gass on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  26. ^ "Candidate registration for Jon Gray-Ginsburg on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  27. ^ "Candidate registration for Robin Jones on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Boyd, Shaun (January 5, 2026). "Former Colorado Republican congressman leaves the GOP, reshuffling the gubernatorial race". CBS News. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  29. ^ a b Luning, Ernest (October 9, 2025). "Colorado Republicans Gabe Evans, Bill Owens endorse Barb Kirkmeyer's gubernatorial campaign". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  30. ^ a b "Victor Marx Locks Down Some Very Boebert-y Endorsements". Colorado Pols. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  31. ^ Armstrong, Ari. "Gov. Candidate Offers No Campaign Promises, Instead Pitches 'Unseen War' with 'Demons'". Colorado Times Recorder. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  32. ^ "Candidate registration for Stephen Hamilton on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  33. ^ "Candidate registration for Frederick White Osborne on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  34. ^ "Candidate registration for Rev Willow Collamer on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  35. ^ "Candidate registration for Bradley Allen Wall on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". tracer.sos.colorado.gov. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  36. ^ "Candidate registration for Shawn Bennett on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved October 21, 2025.
  37. ^ Kenney, Andrew (August 20, 2024). "The multimillionaire who reshaped Colorado's electoral system wants to make even bigger changes". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024. During a recent interview at his mansion in Cherry Hills Village, Thiry said he would not run for the state's highest office.
  38. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  39. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  40. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  41. ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
Official campaign websites
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2026_Colorado_gubernatorial_election&oldid=1340231826"