Barbara Kirkmeyer Leads Colorado GOP Primary 41%-39% Over Victor Marx
Updated
Updated · The Colorado Sun · Jun 30
Barbara Kirkmeyer Leads Colorado GOP Primary 41%-39% Over Victor Marx
3 articles · Updated · The Colorado Sun · Jun 30
Summary
41% to 39% — state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer held a razor-thin lead over ministry leader Victor Marx late Tuesday in Colorado’s too-close-to-call Republican gubernatorial primary, with Scott Bottoms at 20%.
The winner will face Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser in November to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis, with Republicans seeking their first statewide win in Colorado since 2016.
Kirkmeyer entered as the establishment favorite with backing from former Gov. Bill Owens, Rep. Gabe Evans and The Gazette, but struggled to match Marx’s fundraising and social-media-driven momentum.
Marx’s unconventional campaign also drew scrutiny after he refused to answer a TV question about how many people he had killed; he said Tuesday he would accept the result and support the GOP nominee.
The race underscores the party’s uphill path in Colorado, where Republicans have not held the governorship since Bill Owens left office in 2007 and their 2022 nominee lost by nearly 20 points.