Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has secured the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating three-term Senator Michael Bennet in a primary that reshaped the state's political landscape. Decision Desk HQ projects Weiser's victory, marking a dramatic reversal from early polls that showed Bennet as the frontrunner.
Weiser, a two-term attorney general and former clerk for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, ran a campaign that emphasized his record of suing the Trump administration 66 times during the former president's second term. He also criticized Bennet for voting to confirm several of Trump's Cabinet secretaries, a point of contrast that resonated with progressive voters.
Bennet, a former Denver Public Schools superintendent and three-term senator, argued for more aggressive policy proposals, including a state public option for health insurance and a goal of capping rent at 30% of income through increased starter homes and affordable housing. Weiser countered with plans to expand the existing Colorado Option health program and create a 'primary care for all' system, as well as adding 40,000 'attainable' homes by cutting red tape.
The two candidates were largely aligned on policy, but Weiser's sharper attacks on Bennet's Senate votes and his own litigation record gave him an edge. Bennet had endorsements from Senator John Hickenlooper, a former governor, and several House Democrats, while Weiser was backed by former Governor Roy Romer and former Representative Ed Perlmutter.
Both candidates shared a unique personal background, as children of Holocaust survivors, a fact that added a layer of personal narrative to the race. The primary outcome sets up Weiser to succeed term-limited Governor Jared Polis, who has angered his party by commuting the sentence of election denier Tina Peters, a move that led to a censure from the state party in May. Polis is seen as a potential 2028 candidate, but his recent actions have created friction within the Democratic base.
Bennet will remain in the Senate, where he is not up for reelection until 2028, leaving his political future open. The primary result underscores the shifting dynamics in Colorado, where the party's progressive wing is gaining influence, as seen in Senator Hickenlooper's recent primary challenge and competitive House primaries.
Weiser now faces the general election in a state that has leaned reliably blue in recent years, but the fallout from Polis's controversial commutation could energize Republican opposition. The attorney general's campaign will likely focus on his legal battles against the Trump administration and his plans for health care and housing, while also navigating the internal party divisions exposed by the primary.
