Colorado Action

Rumblings in the Dem-dominated Centennial State

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Governor

US Senator Michael Bennet (D), as expected, formally announced his intention to run for Governor next year. Since he was re-elected to a six-year term in 2022, he does not have to risk his Senate seat to run for Governor. Should he be elected, Sen. Bennet would then appoint his own successor.

While his presence in the Governor’s race dissuaded US Reps. Joe Neguse (D-Lafayette/Boulder) and Jason Crow (D-Aurora) from running statewide (they both have endorsed Sen. Bennet), Attorney General Phil Reiser (D), who was the first to announce for Governor, is committed to remaining in the race. He says that Mr. Bennet should remain in the Senate at the very time more Democratic voices are needed in Washington. 

Another potential gubernatorial candidate has decided to run for a different office. Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D), who was expected to become a gubernatorial candidate, instead announced for Attorney General largely in anticipation of Bennet running for Governor. Conversely, former Attorney General, US Senator, US Interior Secretary and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar (D) said he is still interested in a potential Governor’s bid, noting that he has previously held both Bennet’s and Reiser’s current positions.

The Democratic nomination process looks to be the major battle to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis (D). In Colorado, the parties hold a nominating assembly prior to the statewide primary election. Candidates can qualify for the primary ballot by obtaining 30% of the convention delegates’ support, or they can petition onto the ballot through a signature gathering process. 

Candidates can both participate in the assembly and submit petitions. It will be interesting to see if any of the contenders adhere only to the convention process, i.e., meaning they will end their campaigns if they don’t obtain the required number of delegate votes to advance into the general election. This does happen, but most who participate in the assembly also submit petitions unless they are fully confident of obtaining the necessary delegate votes.

With Colorado now basically cemented as a Democratic state, the eventual GOP nominee has much work to do just to prove he or she will be a viable candidate in the general election. 

Announced Republican gubernatorial contenders are state Sen. Mark Baisley (R-Salida), state Rep. Scott Bottoms (R-Colorado Springs), and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. Others are expected to join.

The candidate filing deadline and nominating assembly will both occur next April. The statewide primary will likely be set for June 24, 2026.

CO-8

Though Democratic state Representative Manny Rutinel (D-Commerce City) has already raised over $1 million in his early campaign to challenge 8th District freshman US Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Ft. Lupton), former Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (D), who lost to Evans in November, is indicating she will return for a comeback. 

Though Mr. Rutinel has already proven a strong fundraiser, he will now have to spend a great deal of that money just to win the party nomination. Therefore, the person benefiting the most from a Caraveo-Rutinel primary confrontation will be Rep. Evans. 

It will be very interesting to see if either Caraveo or Rutinel would pledge not to force a primary if one or the other fails to gain the requisite delegate support from the nominating assembly to secure an election ballot line. 

If so, the eventual nominee would be able to avoid a potentially divisive and expensive primary. At the outset, it appears likely that both candidates would attract at least 30% of the assembly delegates’ support, the minimum number necessary to advance.

The 8th District lies north and east of Denver and contains the Greeley, Thurston and Westminster communities. It was designed as a competitive seat and has certainly performed in such a manner.

The district’s first two election victors, Ms. Caraveo and Mr. Evans, won the seat with 48 and 49% of the vote, respectively. The CO-8 campaign will again become one of the most hotly contested races of the national US House election cycle and a major factor toward determining the next partisan majority. 

Jim Ellis is a 35-year veteran of politics at the state and national levels. He has served ss executive director for two national political action committees, as well as a consultant to the three national Republican Party organizations in DC, the National Federation of Independent Business, and various national conservative groups.

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, he earned a B. A. in Political Science from the University of California at Davis in 1979. Jim raised his daughter, Jacqueline, alone after his wife died following a tragic car accident. He helped establish the Joan Ellis Victims Assistance Network in Rochester, NH. Jim also is a member of the Northern Virginia Football Officials Association, which officiates high school games throughout the region.

Editor's note:

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