July 01, 2026 08:53 AM UTC

The Republican Race For Governor Is Not Over

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• by: Colorado Pols

As Robert Garrison reports for Denver7, one of the only unresolved races from last night’s primary elections in Colorado is the Republican nomination for governor, where state Sen. “Both Ways Barb” Kirkmeyer’s lead over fabulist “high-risk missionary” Victor Marx is dwindling as the counting goes on:

Despite no clear winner being declared in the race, both candidates took to their respective stages later in the evening and addressed their supporters as if they had just clinched their party’s nomination, staying mostly upbeat.

“And I got to tell you, I look forward to debating the future of Colorado, of our state, with Phil Weiser. I’m looking forward to those debates,” Kirkmeyer told her supporters. “I just want to remind you, Phil, your budget has increased by about 40% since you took office.”

Marx, however, struck a more combative tone, telling supporters he believes the political establishment is working against him.

“I’m pretty sure the lawyers are going to get involved, because they don’t want to give up what the establishment has done, but think about this: every aspect has come against us- both sides of the Republican Party, the legacy media, the conservative media,” Marx said.

The Denver Post’s Seth Klamann:

Kirkmeyer led 39.94% to Marx’s 39.65% as of 2:38 a.m. Wednesday — a lead of just 0.29 percentage points with 466,400 votes tallied so far, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. Rep. Scott Bottoms, a conservative pastor from Colorado Springs also seeking the GOP nomination, was in third with 20.41%…

Nearly 400 people gathered for Marx’s watch party at a ranch-resort in Larkspur, and by 8:45 p.m., they were milling about as country music played and a projector screen showed the results. Marx spoke well after 9 p.m., telling his supporters that while he remained confident he would win, final results would likely not come Tuesday night or, potentially, on Wednesday.

“So it is too close to call tonight,” he said, though “every drop of more votes, they’re leaning toward us.”

That’s still the count as of this writing as we await morning updates from counties still counting ballots. In Colorado, a result with less than .5% separation triggers an automatic recount, though candidates can always request and pay for a recount of their own. So far, Marx has suggested that he will respect the final result of the ballot count whatever it is. But if Kirkmeyer’s margin stays within the recount range, and the Republican nomination for governor becomes some kind of protracted question…we could see Marx turning hostile to the process pretty quickly.

And what happens then, readers timidly ask?

Well, in 2020, there was an election that wasn’t even this close. And before it was resolved, things went a little sideways.

Before that happens, we assume there will be some court action. There’s no need to get ahead of Victor Marx’s vivid imagination. But at this point, even a sane person wouldn’t concede this race. Depending on how late ballots break, Marx could still pull this out.

So as much as you may need a nap after last night’s tumult, better not sleep on this one.