State Sen.
Barbara Kirkmeyer held a narrow lead over ministry leader Victor Marx in the Colorado Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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The race remains too close to call, according to reports from KDVR, The Colorado Sun, and Denver7.
With 80% of ballots reported, Kirkmeyer secured 40.69% of the vote while Marx received 39.16%, a slim margin that could trigger an official recount.
State Rep. Scott Bottoms also participated as the third candidate.
The winner will face Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser in November. Weiser won his primary against U.
S. Sen.
Michael Bennet and seeks to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis next year.
Kirkmeyer entered the race as the establishment favorite with several key endorsements. Speaking to supporters on Tuesday evening, she looked ahead to the general election.
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"I look forward to debating the future of Colorado with Phil Weiser," Kirkmeyer said.
She also criticized Weiser's spending, noting his budget has increased by about 40% since he took office.
Marx, a Marine Corps veteran and first-time candidate, addressed his own campaign gathering in Larkspur.
"This is exciting, a little more exciting than I thought it would be, but this is Colorado politics," he said.
Marx stated he would support the final nominee but voiced concerns about opposition from within the political system.
"Every aspect has come against us—both sides of the Republican Party, the legacy media, the conservative media," he said.
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He concluded by emphasizing his dedication to the state: "The goal is to take Colorado back, and I am for Colorado."
