Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser pulled off a major upset on Tuesday, defeating three-term Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary for governor. The result derails Bennet’s effort to leave the Senate for the governor’s mansion and gives Weiser a strong path to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in a state that has grown increasingly favorable to Democrats in statewide elections.
Bennet, one of Colorado’s best-known Democrats and a former 2020 presidential candidate, entered the race as the establishment favorite. He had the backing of Sen. John Hickenlooper, Reps. Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and Brittany Pettersen, numerous state lawmakers, labor organizations, and more than 200 Democratic leaders across the state.
Primary voters nonetheless chose Weiser. The two-term attorney general centered his campaign on his record as Colorado’s top legal officer, arguing that his executive experience and courtroom battles made him the best choice to lead the state. “Phil has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service,” his campaign says on its website.
A Campaign Built on Legal Credentials
The website goes on to describe what Weiser would do as governor: “As your Governor he will continue to advance the rule of law, protect our democracy, and promote justice for all. Phil Weiser will continue to defend and protect every Coloradan across the state.”
Weiser also assembled a broad coalition that included former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, former Rep. Ed Perlmutter, former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, former Sen. Tim Wirth, local officials, state legislators, and progressive organizations.
Bennet’s central argument was that he could do more as governor than he could from the Senate. He repeatedly stressed his desire to challenge President Donald Trump and advance Democratic priorities from the governor’s office. Weiser countered that Colorado needed an experienced executive who had already shown a willingness to take legal action on the state’s behalf. Voters ultimately sided with that message.
The outcome is one of the biggest political victories of Weiser’s career and a disappointing end to months of campaigning for Bennet. It also averts what could have become a complicated political fight over Bennet’s Senate seat had he won the governorship in November.
Bennet Stays in the Senate
Bennet is expected to remain in the Senate and serve out the rest of his current term. With the Democratic nomination secured, Weiser moves on to the general election as the favorite in a state where Democrats have dominated recent statewide contests.
Republicans were still counting votes Tuesday night. State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer held the lead in the GOP gubernatorial primary after the Democratic race was called, while Victor Marx and Scott Bottoms trailed. Whoever wins the Republican nomination will face a difficult path in November. Colorado has steadily shifted toward Democrats in statewide races over the past decade, making any Republican statewide campaign an uphill battle.
For Weiser, Tuesday’s result marks the culmination of years spent building a statewide profile as attorney general. If he prevails in November, he will become Colorado’s next governor, succeeding Polis after two terms, according to Trending Politics. The primary also underscores the unpredictability of Democratic politics, where even well-funded candidates with broad institutional support can fall short when voters choose a different vision for the party’s future.
