Scott Bottoms (R), Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), Victor Marx (R), and Kelvin Wimberly (write-in) are running in the Republican primary for governor of Colorado on June 30, 2026. Incumbent Gov. Jared Polis (D) is term-limited. Bottoms, Kirkmeyer, and Marx lead in fundraising and media attention.
As of June 9, 2026, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rated the general election as Solid Democratic. Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it as Safe Democratic. Between 1974 and 2026, Gov. Bill Owens (R) was the only Republican to serve as governor. He served from 1999 to 2007.
According to the former Colorado Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams, "Even if the Republican nominee for governor is not winning, they have to be somebody who's not dragging down the rest of the ticket. And that matters a great deal."
According to Axios Denver's John Frank, the candidates are ideologically divided. Frank described Kirkmeyer as moderate and said that Bottoms and Marx are running to the right of her. This ideological divide is present in the approaches each candidate has said they would take to appeal to voters in the general election.
Bottoms was first elected to represent District 15 in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022. His professional experience includes working as the lead pastor of the Church at Briargate. Bottoms also served in the U.S. Navy. Bottoms' priorities include addressing affordability, education, and public safety.
Kamala Harris (D) defeated Donald Trump (R) in the state 54% to 43% in the 2024 presidential election. Joe Biden (D) defeated Trump in the state 55% to 42% in the 2020 presidential election. Bottoms said that the shift would help him in the general election: “Colorado didn’t vote for Trump, but we saw some unique anomalies that are now exploding even more.”
Kirkmeyer was first elected to represent District 23 in the Colorado Senate in 2020. She previously served as a Weld County Commissioner for 19 years and as acting executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs under Owens. Kirkmeyer's professional experience includes co-owning and operating a dairy farm. Her priorities include addressing affordability, public safety, and infrastructure.
Kirkmeyer, who is focusing her campaign on her record, said, "I actually have a record of delivering. I think I have a message that appeals to the broader electorate, not just Republicans.”
Marx's professional experience includes working as the CEO and founder of All Things Possible Ministries. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Marx's priorities include addressing affordability, education, and public safety.
Marx said his view that his campaign is something larger would help him in the general election: "It feels like a movement, not an election. People are excited to be back in the process, so it's working already."
The candidates also differed in how they made the ballot. Kirkmeyer went through the petition process, which required her to collect 1,500 verified signatures in each of the state's eight congressional districts. Bottoms went through the assembly process, in which candidates must receive at least 30% of the votes from delegates at the Republican Party's state assembly. The delegates are selected at local precinct caucuses. He won 45% of the vote. Marx also met the threshold, winning 39% of the vote. He only needed to win 10% of the vote because he also submitted signatures. Click here to read more about the assembly process in Colorado.