Thoughts/hopes for Colorado’s next governor?

[LookinforDirt]

What makes you think that anything other than a liberal whack job will be elected to the Governor of Colorado? All the California's etc that have moved into the front range have started the inevitable decline of a once great state. I don't see how that decline can be avoided unless the folks in western Colorado start reproducing like rabbits.

I pretty much implied I don’t think that. But wondering what people who live there are seeing.

 

[Weldor]

Unfortunately, Colorado is following us down the toilet. It's a real bummer. Same thing happened here, Phoenix invasion and state is toast.

 

[RojoGrande]

https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/09/17/colorado-registered-voter-unaffiliated-democrat-republican

Poll finds that Colorado independent voters lack trust in both major parties

Survey offers warning signs for both Democrats and Republicans.

www.cpr.org

From the above, the majority of voters in Colorado are independent and lack trust in either party. That said, the bulk of these independent folks are left leaning from the front range. There's also likely a Trump backlash with all the tariff shenanigans and typical mid-term move away from the incumbent. The Dem's no longer hold a super majority in the state house but only by a slim margin. This may change in mid-terms as well.

Of the Dem's, Michael Bennet would be much preferred over super lefty Phil Weiser. Of the Rep's, Barbara Kirkmeyer and Scott Bottoms are the front runners. Kirkmeyer is the more senior state senator. Bennet has a lot more name recognition as the current senior US Senator from CO and will likely win.

 

[mlevimadden]

I will probably vote for Marx as well if he makes it through the primary. When we inevitably end up with a Democrat governor, I would greatly prefer Bennet to Weiser.

Anyone but the extreme left already have an issue with a lot of Weiser's policies as AG for the state. It's very hard to ignore what his policies regarding public drug use and homelessness have done in the major city centers, so hopefully they see he will have a very tough row to hoe with center voters and go for the more moderate Bennet.

 

[Woitey]

Front Range is gonna elect a dem. I am far from a Bennet fan boy, but Weiser is gonna be our own Virginia's Spanberger. And crazy eyes Grisold is gonna go for broke as the new AG, and we ain't seen gun control yet.

 

[Quandary]

Having had a house in Colorado for 27 years and 2 kids that live in Denver I can safely assure that the majority of people who live in the Front Range are not independent.

 

[buffybr]

What makes you think that anything other than a liberal whack job will be elected to the Governor of Colorado? All the California's etc that have moved into the front range have started the inevitable decline of a once great state. I don't see how that decline can be avoided unless the folks in western Colorado start reproducing like rabbits.

I agree with you 100%

As a 5th generation Coloradoan, I got fed up with the front range nonsense and moved to Montana 50 years ago.

I can't vote in the Colorado elections, but I still have family there, so I can only recommend not voting in another idiot democrat.

 

[roadrunner]

Well CO, you're not alone. Your neighbor to the south of you is going through the same problem.

Front Range and the Rio Grande Corridor are plagued with chuckleheads that would cry like a baby if things got real tough...

 

[bayoublaster7527]

It will be interesting to see how the primaries play out. Any R will have an uphill battle, but not impossible due to the large amount of independent/unaffiliated voters. To bring it back to hunting, the Polis admin has been openly hostile to sportsmen and hunting from the start. We have been completely shut out from commission appointments and the Governor and First Gentleman have made a concerted effort to stack the commission with anti-hunting activists. That being said the current candidates will likely be more favorable to sportsmen, likely a transition back to how things were under a Hickenlooper or Owens administration. Still pretty awful on guns, but not openly anti-hunting. The Governors race is the single most important political race when considering wildlife management, by a long shot.

 

[JRay]

I’d say we have a near zero chance of getting a republican elected governor. We’d need a 300k vote swing towards a republican candidate. This was before the tariffs and ICE raids.

 

[Weldor]

Scary!

 

[COHunter33]

Since this is a hunting forum, I figured people might be interested in each candidates stance on public land and hunting. I was only able to find mention of either topic on Weiser’s website. I at least appreciate his support to protect both. I really wish a Republican in Colorado would step up to the plate and make public land protections a priority. They are utterly failing on that subject in my eyes.

Our Land, Air, and Water | Phil Weiser for Colorado

Colorado’s land, air, and water are what make our state so special. But threats from Washington and rising environmental challenges mean we must step up and protect them. For more information, read our plan here. And to learn more about my thoughts on Open Space and Outdoor Rec, read our...

philforcolorado.com

 

[def90]

Most likely going to be Bennet. I don't see a Republican getting elected here any time soon. Not only due to the big city voter base but also because the Colorado gop is still an old boys club and would rather throw an election visa running one of their insiders than run a likeable candidate.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Most likely going to be Bennet. I don't see a Republican getting elected here any time soon. Not only due to the big city voter base but also because the Colorado gop is still an old boys club and would rather throw an election visa running one of their insiders than run a likeable candidate.

1000% they run awful candidates and then wonder why they lose? It’s the definition of insanity. Part of the problem is the primaries as well, if you register independent “cough” “ cough” which D’s have instructed many to do you can pick which primary to vote in, if you pick an extreme loser for your opposition then they are super easy to defeat in the landslide. I want to say the 24 election cycle there were Dem super pacs running ads to help the worst R candidates win their primaries, and they were easily defeated in the general election.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Since this is a hunting forum, I figured people might be interested in each candidates stance on public land and hunting. I was only able to find mention of either topic on Weiser’s website. I at least appreciate his support to protect both. I really wish a Republican in Colorado would step up to the plate and make public land protections a priority. They are utterly failing on that subject in my eyes.

Our Land, Air, and Water | Phil Weiser for Colorado

Colorado’s land, air, and water are what make our state so special. But threats from Washington and rising environmental challenges mean we must step up and protect them. For more information, read our plan here. And to learn more about my thoughts on Open Space and Outdoor Rec, read our...

philforcolorado.com

I am highly suspect of ole Phylis… dude has actually made Co one of the least safe states in the last 5 years. So a little blurb about supporting hunting…. I’ll call bullshit on that especially as he actively undermines our 2A rights as the current AG. I would rather have Bennet than Phil… they are all tight with Polis and Marlon, but Phil is far more likely to be a lackey than Bennet imo.

 

[spike camp]

Sad to say, but after 30 years on the front range, and I built our dream home here…I’m done.
I hate it here, now.
Looking at farms in Missouri.

 

[Beendare]

Please do your research.....policy matters. This isn't a popularity contest or who is the best public speaker. One Look at states like CA or MN illustrates how badly Newsom and Walz have literally wrecked those states.

Vote! Stop saying one vote doesn't matter.
Sportsmen can be a huge force if we spread the word and Vote.

 

[JRay]

Weiser will be nothing but a continuation of Polis.