2026 Colorado gubernatorial election
The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. The primary elections will take place on June 30, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.
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2026 Colorado gubernatorial election
The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. The primary elections will take place on June 30, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.
Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in Colorado since Bill Owens was re-elected in (/wiki/2002Coloradogubernatorialelection).
Democratic primary
Candidates
To move forward to the primary, candidates had to petition onto the ballot or achieve 30% or more at the Colorado Democratic Party State Assembly. Michael Bennet was the only candidate to petition onto the primary ballot. All other candidates went through the State Assembly process. Phil Weiser was the only candidate to achieve 30% or more.
Declared
• Michael Bennet, U.S. senator (2009–present) • Phil Weiser, attorney general of Colorado (2019–present)
Declined
• Jason Crow, U.S. representative for Colorado's 6th congressional district (2019–present) (running for re-election; endorsed Bennet) • Jena Griswold, secretary of state of Colorado (2019–present) (running for attorney general) • Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver (2023–present) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Coloradogubernatorialelection) (endorsed Bennet) • Joe Neguse, U.S. representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district (2019–present) and nominee for secretary of state in (/wiki/2014Coloradoelections#SecretaryofState) (running for re-election; endorsed Bennet)
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Michael Bennet</th><th>Phil Weiser</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Global Strategy Group (D)</td><td>June 9–11, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>22%</td><td>25%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Republican primary
Declared
• Scott Bottoms, state representative from the 15th district (2023–present) • Jason Clark, money manager, candidate for governor in (/wiki/2014Coloradogubernatorialelection) and independent candidate in (/wiki/2010Coloradogubernatorialelection) • Joshua Griffin, research and development firm founder and candidate for Colorado's 5th congressional district in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinColorado#District5) • Barbara Kirkmeyer, state senator from the 23rd district (2021–present), candidate for Colorado's 4th congressional district in (/wiki/2014UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinColorado#District4), and nominee for Colorado's 8th congressional district in (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinColorado#District8) • Victor Marx, ministry leader • Will McBride, attorney • Jason Mikesell, Teller County Sheriff • Joe Oltmann, podcaster
Filed paperwork
• Stevan Gess • Jon Gray-Ginsberg, candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Coloradogubernatorialelection) • Robin Jones
Withdrawn
• Mark Baisley, state senator from the 4th district (2023–present) (running for U.S. senate) • Greg Lopez, former U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2024–2025) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Coloradogubernatorialelection) and (/wiki/2022Coloradogubernatorialelection) (running as an Independent)
Third party candidates
Filed paperwork
• Stephen Hamilton (American Constitution) • Frederick Osborne, actor (No Labels)
Independents
Declared
• Greg Lopez, former U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2024–2025) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Coloradogubernatorialelection) and (/wiki/2022Coloradogubernatorialelection) (previously ran as a Republican)
Declined
• Kent Thiry, former CEO of DaVita
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid D</td><td>December 20, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Solid D</td><td>January 16, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe D</td><td>September 4, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Likely D</td><td>January 23, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>