2026 Colorado gubernatorial election

The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jared Polis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Jena Griswold	Joe Neguse	Ken Salazar	Phil Weiser	Other	Undecided
Healthier Colorado/Magellan Strategies^[10]	December 4–9, 2024	630 (LV)	± 3.9%	16%	20%	11%	8%	8%	37%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Mark Baisley, state senator for the 4th district (2023–present)^[11]
Scott Bottoms, state representative for the 15th district (2023–present)^[3]
Jason Clark, money manager, candidate for governor in 2014 and independent candidate in 2010^[12]
Jason Mikesell, Teller County Sheriff^[13]

Filed paperwork

Stevan Gess^[14]
Jon Gray-Ginsberg, candidate for governor in 2022^[15]
Robin Jones^[16]

Publicly expressed interest

Barbara Kirkmeyer, state senator for the 23rd district (2021–present) and nominee for Colorado's 8th congressional district in 2022^[5]

Potential

Greg Lopez, former U.S. Representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district (2024–2025) and candidate for governor in 2018 and 2022^[17]^[5]
Paul Lundeen, Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate (2023–present) from the 9th district (2019–present)^[17]

Other Parties

American Constitution

Filed paperwork

Stephen Hamilton^[18]

Independents

Filed paperwork

Willow Collamer^[19]

Declined

Kent Thiry, former CEO of DaVita^[20]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[21]	Solid D	January 23, 2025
Inside Elections^[22]	Solid D	February 6, 2025

Notes

^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

References

^ Paul, Jesse (January 2, 2025). "Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser launches 2026 campaign for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
^ Squyres, Kathryn (March 3, 2025). "Sen. Michael Bennet confirms he's considering run for Colorado governor". The Durango Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Paul, Jesse (January 20, 2025). "Scott Bottoms, Republican state representative, will run for Colorado governor in 2026". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
^ Paul, Jesse (February 25, 2025). "Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty launches bid to become Colorado's attorney general". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Zelinger, Marshall (December 16, 2024). "Poll shows Rep. Joe Neguse leading Democratic candidates in race for Colorado governor". KUSA. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
^ Cotton, Anthony (March 21, 2025). "Interview: Colorado's Ken Salazar on trade with Mexico, border security, cartels, and what he calls the Gulf". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
^ Frank, John (March 10, 2025). "Jason Crow takes top Dem post, won't seek Colorado governor's office". Axios. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
^ Paul, Jesse (February 27, 2025). "Crisanta Duran, a former Colorado House speaker, jumps into 2026 race for attorney general". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
^ Zornio, Trish (April 1, 2024). "Zornio: These 6 women could replace Jared Polis in 2026. They're not who you think". The Colorado Sun. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024. Johnston has promised not to [run for governor] on the heels of his election.
^ Zelinger, Marshall (November 16, 2024). "Poll shows Rep. Joe Neguse leading Democratic candidates in race for Colorado governor". KUSA. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
^ Birkeland, Bente (March 3, 2025). "Mark Baisley becomes second Republican state lawmaker to enter Colorado's 2026 race for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
^ Metzger, Hannah (January 22, 2025). "Third Time's the Charm? Jason Clark Is Running for Colorado Governor...Again". Westword. Retrieved January 22, 2025.
^ Watson, Lauren (March 13, 2025). "Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell running for Colorado governor". KKTV. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
^ "Candidate registration for Steven Gass on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^ "Candidate registration for Jon Gray-Ginsburg on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
^ "Candidate registration for Robin Jones on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Pols, Colorado (November 18, 2024). "Peace Out, 2024: The 2026 Big Line is Here". Colorado Pols. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
^ "Candidate registration for Stephen Hamilton on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^ "Candidate registration for Rev Willow Collamer on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
^ Kenney, Andrew (August 20, 2024). "The multimillionaire who reshaped Colorado's electoral system wants to make even bigger changes". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024. During a recent interview at his mansion in Cherry Hills Village, Thiry said he would not run for the state's highest office.
^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.

External Links

Official campaign websites

Phil Weiser (D) for Governor

[Key-10] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[1] Paul, Jesse (January 2, 2025). "Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser launches 2026 campaign for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 2, 2025.

[2] Squyres, Kathryn (March 3, 2025). "Sen. Michael Bennet confirms he's considering run for Colorado governor". The Durango Herald. Retrieved March 3, 2025.

[bottoms-3] Paul, Jesse (January 20, 2025). "Scott Bottoms, Republican state representative, will run for Colorado governor in 2026". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

[4] Paul, Jesse (February 25, 2025). "Boulder County DA Michael Dougherty launches bid to become Colorado's attorney general". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved February 26, 2025.

[leading-5] Zelinger, Marshall (December 16, 2024). "Poll shows Rep. Joe Neguse leading Democratic candidates in race for Colorado governor". KUSA. Retrieved December 18, 2024.

[6] Cotton, Anthony (March 21, 2025). "Interview: Colorado's Ken Salazar on trade with Mexico, border security, cartels, and what he calls the Gulf". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved March 24, 2025.

[7] Frank, John (March 10, 2025). "Jason Crow takes top Dem post, won't seek Colorado governor's office". Axios. Retrieved March 10, 2025.

[8] Paul, Jesse (February 27, 2025). "Crisanta Duran, a former Colorado House speaker, jumps into 2026 race for attorney general". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved February 27, 2025.

[Zornio-9] Zornio, Trish (April 1, 2024). "Zornio: These 6 women could replace Jared Polis in 2026. They're not who you think". The Colorado Sun. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024. Johnston has promised not to [run for governor] on the heels of his election.

[11] Zelinger, Marshall (November 16, 2024). "Poll shows Rep. Joe Neguse leading Democratic candidates in race for Colorado governor". KUSA. Retrieved December 17, 2024.

[12] Birkeland, Bente (March 3, 2025). "Mark Baisley becomes second Republican state lawmaker to enter Colorado's 2026 race for governor". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved March 3, 2025.

[13] Metzger, Hannah (January 22, 2025). "Third Time's the Charm? Jason Clark Is Running for Colorado Governor...Again". Westword. Retrieved January 22, 2025.

[14] Watson, Lauren (March 13, 2025). "Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell running for Colorado governor". KKTV. Retrieved March 13, 2025.

[15] "Candidate registration for Steven Gass on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

[16] "Candidate registration for Jon Gray-Ginsburg on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.

[17] "Candidate registration for Robin Jones on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved November 24, 2024.

[Pols-18] Pols, Colorado (November 18, 2024). "Peace Out, 2024: The 2026 Big Line is Here". Colorado Pols. Retrieved November 24, 2024.

[19] "Candidate registration for Stephen Hamilton on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

[20] "Candidate registration for Rev Willow Collamer on Colorado Secretary of State TRACER". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 2, 2024.

[21] Kenney, Andrew (August 20, 2024). "The multimillionaire who reshaped Colorado's electoral system wants to make even bigger changes". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024. During a recent interview at his mansion in Cherry Hills Village, Thiry said he would not run for the state's highest office.

[22] "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.

[23] "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.

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Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Polling

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Filed paperwork

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Other Parties

American Constitution

Filed paperwork

Independents

Filed paperwork

Declined

General election

Predictions

See also

Notes

References

External Links