October 21, 2025 10:11 AM UTC

Scott Bottoms Dominates "Straw Pole" For Governor

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• by: Colorado Pols

Last Saturday, a group of Republicans including the Boulder County Republicans and fringe-right “MAGA King” Trent Leisy held a debate featuring a fair number of the baker’s dozen-plus Republicans who have thrown their hat in the ring to run for the party’s forlorn-hope nomination to be the next governor of Colorado. The two candidates present considered to be most viable within this gaggle of relative unknowns were state Sen. “Both Ways Barb” Kirkmeyer and state Rep. Scott Bottoms of Colorado Springs, who as readers know has a day job as pastor of the Church at Briargate.

Until substantially more masculine fellow pastor Victor Marx came into this primary like a wrecking ball with the support of big names like Rep. Lauren Boebert, Bottoms had the evangelical Christian wing of the Republican primary electorate pretty much locked up. But Marx wasn’t present for Saturday’s forum in Loveland, allowing Bottoms to run away with the evening’s straw poll:

Or as Bottoms called it, the “straw pole.” Given Rep. Bottoms’ obsession with the bedrooms and bathrooms of fellow Coloradans, the jokes write themselves.

Although no one should consider a straw poll eight months before the primary to be anything more than a discussion item, and are frequently won by unserious candidates, it’s not always the case. With Barb Kirkmeyer by all accounts failing to ignite, Bottoms has been working hard to take advantage of Kirkmeyer’s weakness–and this straw poll result indicates some success in that effort.

We’re pretty sure if Victor Marx challenges Scott Bottoms to an arm-wrestling match, it’s all over. Until then, Bottoms has every reason to keep swinging.