If you watch the TV ads dominating Colorado airwaves right now, you might think the state's upcoming primary for governor is a contest to see who can build the tallest wall around the Rocky Mountains to keep Donald Trump out.
The two heavyweights fighting for the Democratic nomination, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and state Attorney General Phil Weiser, have spent millions of dollars trying to convince voters that they are the ultimate shield against the White House. But if you strip away the anti-Trump rhetoric, something weird becomes obvious. Bennet and Weiser basically agree on almost every major local policy affecting Colorado.
Outgoing Governor Jared Polis is term-limited, leaving the seat wide open for the June 30 primary. Instead of debating how to solve Colorado's crumbling state budget, sky-high housing costs, or water scarcity, the primary has turned into a nationalized boxing match where the main metric of success is how hard you can punch the president.
The Identity Crisis in the Colorado Governor Race
The core conflict isn't about what these two men want to do. It's about where they come from. Weiser has spent his campaign painting himself as the true champion of local Colorado interests, routinely attacking Bennet as the candidate of Washington, D.C. It makes sense as a tactical move. Bennet has held his U.S. Senate seat since 2009, a 17-year tenure that Weiser argues makes him part of the federal establishment rather than the local fabric.
Bennet fires back by pointing to his deep roots traveling across all 64 counties, arguing his long federal experience makes him uniquely qualified to protect the state from Washington overreach.
The strategy has led to some pretty thin attack lines. Weiser lambastes Bennet for voting to confirm a handful of Trump cabinet nominees over the years. Bennet counters by knocking Weiser for not signing Colorado onto every single multi-state lawsuit filed against the Trump administration. Local progressive leaders are starting to get annoyed. State Representative Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat, pointed out the obvious when he noted that in an economy with massive inequality, voters don't actually care how many minor appointees Bennet voted for or how many times Weiser hit the file button on a lawsuit.
The Policy Echo Chamber
When you listen to the two candidates speak at forums, like their debate at Colorado State University or the 9News forum in Denver, the policy differences vanish. A local podcast host recently joked that the pair sound like two angry dads standing in an airport security line together.
Look at what they actually say they will do if elected:
- Taxes: Both candidates support keeping the state's unique Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), which forces voter approval for any tax hikes.
- Labor: Neither candidate will commit to rolling back Colorado's restrictive labor laws that create extra hurdles for union organizing.
- Energy: Both embrace nuclear power as a necessary pillar for Colorado's transition to green energy.
The single real policy crack in the armor comes down to education funding. Weiser completely rules out any state participation in a federal tax credit program championed by the Trump administration, which critics fear will drain public money into private schools. Bennet has been deeply skeptical of the program, but he hasn't completely closed the door on it. Beyond that, the biggest difference between them at the debates is that Weiser wears a necktie and Bennet leaves his collar open.
What the Numbers Show
The campaign trail is seeing unprecedented cash flow, making this one of the most expensive primaries in Colorado history. According to state campaign finance records, Weiser's campaign broke records by hauling in roughly $6.4 million. Bennet isn't exactly hurting for cash, bringing in about $4.6 million of his own.
The polling reflects a volatile race that depends entirely on who turns out to vote.
- Late May: A Colorado Community Research poll of 796 likely voters had Weiser leading Bennet 41% to 34%.
- Early June: A Public Policy Polling survey showed Bennet flipping the lead, up 36% to 30%.
- Late June: The final pre-primary Public Policy Polling track showed Weiser pulling back ahead at 45% to Bennet's 36%, with a stubborn 19% of voters still completely undecided.
The Chaos on the Other Side
While Democrats fight over who is the tougher anti-Trump warrior, the Republican primary has devolved into its own civil war. State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer represents the traditional, institutional wing of the GOP, utilizing her background in agriculture and state budgeting to pitch a pragmatic conservative vision.
But she is facing an intense challenge from Victor Marx, a controversial ministry leader and political outsider. Marx has dominated the fundraising circuit on the right, raising $2.8 million of the total $4.1 million brought in by Republican candidates. He boasts endorsements from Lauren Boebert and Ted Nugent, and he leads the polling fields with a massive 42% support compared to Kirkmeyer's 13%. Traditional Republicans like Kirkmeyer and State Representative Scott Bottoms have gone so far as to suggest they might not even endorse Marx if he wins the nomination.
With Colorado remaining a firm Democratic stronghold since 2018, whoever wins the Bennet-Weiser primary will enter the general election as the heavy favorite. But by focusing so intensely on a national figure rather than local realities, both frontrunners risk taking office without a clear mandate for the complex challenges waiting for them at the state capitol.
If you are a registered Colorado voter planning to cast your ballot in this primary, don't let the nationalized advertising campaigns distract you from the local reality. Look beyond the generic anti-Washington or anti-Trump scripts. Check your local county clerk website to confirm your closest ballot drop-box location before the June 30 deadline, and read through the candidates' specific platforms on housing density and water rights to see who actually aligns with your community's long-term needs.
