Weiser defeats Bennet for Democratic nod in Colorado governor’s race

State Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) is projected to defeat Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) for the Democratic nomination for Colorado governor, according to Decision Desk HQ, a stark contrast to how the race first started when Bennet was seen as the favorite.

Bennet, a three-term senator and former superintendent of Denver Public Schools, and Weiser, a two-term state attorney general and former clerk to the late U.S. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, were the only two Democrats running for the party’s nod for governor.

The candidates were largely aligned on issues, though Weiser highlighted his experience suing the Trump administration 66 times as the state’s top prosecutor during President Trump’s second term and has attacked Bennet for voting to confirm some of the president’s Cabinet secretaries.

Bennet has argued that his policy plans are more aggressive, pointing out he would launch a state public option for insurance and set a goal to make rent no more than 30 percent of someone’s income by supporting efforts to increase starter homes and affordable housing.

Weiser has advocated for efforts to expand the current Colorado Option, which is only available to those who buy their insurance on the individual market or for small businesses with fewer than 50 people, and advocates for a “primary care for all” system. In terms of housing, Weiser has advocated for adding 40,000 “attainable” homes for Coloradans and reducing red tape and regulations.

Bennet had endorsements from Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a former Colorado governor himself, and Democratic Reps. Jason Crow, Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen. Weiser had the backing of former Gov. Roy Romer (D) and former Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.).

Both candidates have one unique commonality: Both are children of Holocaust survivors.

Given the state’s reliably blue leanings in recent years, Weiser is slated to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis (D), who’s seen as a possible 2028 candidate but has angered his party for recently commuting the sentence of election denier and former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who was convicted in an elections system security breach scheme.

The move angered the state party so much that it voted to censure Polis in May.

Bennet will remain in the Senate as he’s not up for reelection until 2028.

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