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."
