Who is Phil Weiser and what is Weiser running on in the 2026 Colorado Governor race?

Phil Weiser is the Democratic candidate for Colorado governor. Colorado Attorney General; won the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary in an upset over U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat (Jared Polis, D, term-limited).
• Rating: Solid D (Cook, Sabato, Inside Elections, RCP).

Why Weiser’s race looks the way it does

• Republicans have not won a Colorado governor’s race since 2002 (last elected in 1998, per local reports) nor any statewide office since 2016.
• Marx is a political newcomer with a controversial background, including an unverified claim that he killed someone at age seven; GOP strategist Dick Wadhams warned he would hurt other Republicans.
• Marx won the GOP primary by only 2,516 votes over Barb Kirkmeyer, the closest GOP governor primary in state history, leaving the party divided.
• Weiser comes in with momentum after upsetting Sen. Michael Bennet by about 10 to 13 points in the Democratic primary.

What Weiser is running on

• Housing. Supported expanding affordable housing during the primary.
• Immigration. Supported blocking Trump administration deportations.
• Climate. Supported meeting Colorado’s climate goals.
• Governing style. Pitches himself as a ‘fighter’ in state government, focused on ‘showing up, listening, and fighting for the rights and freedoms of all’.
• Labor. Did not commit to the Worker Protection Act favored by labor groups.

In Weiser’s own words

“Whether you voted for me or not, thank you for the opportunity to fight for you and earn your trust.”

The other candidates

• Victor Marx (R)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.