On June 30, 2026, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser emerged as the projected Democratic nominee in the gubernatorial primary. Just before 8 p.m. MT, with 77% of votes counted, Weiser held 54.7% while his opponent, Sen. Michael Bennet, had 45.3%.
Weiser, who cannot seek re-election as Attorney General due to term limits, is running for governor for the first time. This marks Bennet’s first try at securing Colorado’s top executive position as well.
Phil Weiser
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Throughout the vigorous primary election cycle, Weiser attempted to ride on the wave of anti-establishment sentiment. He portrayed Bennet as a political insider, despite having served for eight years himself.
Sen. Michael Bennet
(Source: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
Television audiences were inundated with a series of attack ads concerning both candidates. CBS Colorado Political Reporter Shaun Boyd noted these ads criticized each candidate for allegedly lacking strong “anti-Trump credentials.” Boyd also revealed that Weiser accepted substantial campaign contributions from 68 lawyers affiliated with firms engaged with the Attorney General’s office. Bennet’s camp argued this posed a conflict of interest.
The winner in November’s general election will go head-to-head with the Republican nominee, decided in Tuesday’s GOP primary. Candidates in that race are State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, State Rep. Scott Bottoms, and Victor Marx. Former Congressman Greg Lopez will also compete as an unaffiliated candidate, having departed the Republican Party in January. For the past two decades, Democrats have held the governor’s office in Colorado. Election Day falls on Nov. 3.