The establishment pick wasn't enough when voters wanted to see what someone had actually done
In the long tradition of democratic primaries that humble the anointed and elevate the unexpected, Colorado's attorney general Phil Weiser defeated three-term U.S. Senator Michael Bennet on Tuesday to claim the Democratic nomination for governor. Bennet had entered the race carrying the weight of institutional support — more than 200 endorsements from the state's political establishment — yet Weiser's grounded record as a two-term attorney general and his coalition of progressive and elder-statesman allies proved more persuasive to Democratic voters. The result reshapes Colorado's political succession, preserving Bennet's Senate seat while clearing a path for Weiser toward a governorship that Democrats are broadly favored to hold in November.
- Bennet's commanding endorsement list — over 200 leaders including Senator Hickenlooper and four members of Congress — made him the presumptive frontrunner, yet voters chose the quieter institutional credibility of a sitting attorney general.
- Weiser's victory disrupts the expected transfer of power within Colorado's Democratic establishment, signaling that progressive coalitions and legal-track credentials can outweigh Senate tenure and national name recognition.
- Bennet's defeat closes off a path that would have triggered a contentious Senate vacancy fight, leaving his seat intact and Colorado's Democratic infrastructure undisturbed.
- With Republican Barb Kirkmeyer leading her own primary, Weiser now faces a general election in a state where Democrats have built a structural advantage — making him the clear favorite to succeed term-limited Governor Jared Polis in January.
Phil Weiser, Colorado's two-term attorney general, defeated U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary — a result that surprised many and reordered the race to succeed term-limited Governor Jared Polis. Bennet had entered as the establishment favorite, backed by more than 200 Colorado Democratic leaders including Senator John Hickenlooper, four members of Congress, and major labor organizations. His campaign argued he could fight Trump and drive policy more effectively from the governor's office. Weiser countered with his legal record and drew support from a distinct wing of the party: former governors Roy Romer and Federico Peña, former Representative Ed Perlmutter, and a coalition of progressive organizations.
The outcome carries real consequences beyond the primary itself. Had Bennet won, his Senate seat would have opened a vacancy battle; instead, he is expected to remain in the chamber. On the Republican side, Barb Kirkmeyer was leading her primary as the Democratic race was called. Whoever emerges from that contest faces a difficult climb — Colorado has become reliably Democratic in statewide races, and Weiser enters November as the clear frontrunner to carry his party's decade-long hold on the governor's office into its next chapter.
Phil Weiser, Colorado's attorney general, defeated U.S. Senator Michael Bennet in the state's Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday, a result that surprised many observers and reshaped the race to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis. Bennet, a three-term senator who had run for president in 2020, entered the primary as the establishment favorite, backed by more than 200 Colorado Democratic leaders including fellow Senator John Hickenlooper, four members of Congress, and major labor organizations. Yet Weiser's victory blocked what would have been Bennet's path from the Senate to the governor's mansion and positioned the attorney general as the clear frontrunner in November's general election, a contest Democrats are heavily favored to win in a state where their party has dominated recent statewide races.
The primary contest pitted two prominent Colorado Democrats with distinct arguments for why they should lead the state. Bennet framed his candidacy around his ability to fight Trump and advance policy goals more effectively from the governor's office than from the Senate. Weiser, meanwhile, built his case on his experience as the state's two-term attorney general and his legal background, emphasizing his track record in the role. Weiser's campaign drew support from a different wing of the party's establishment: former governors Roy Romer and Federico Peña, former Representative Ed Perlmutter, former Senator Tim Wirth, and a coalition of progressive organizations alongside local and state officials.
The outcome carries immediate consequences for Colorado's political landscape. Bennet is now expected to remain in the Senate, avoiding a potential vacancy fight that would have erupted had he won the governorship and vacated his seat. Polis, barred by term limits from seeking another term after eight years in office, will leave the governor's residence to his party's nominee. On the Republican side, Barb Kirkmeyer was leading the GOP primary as the Democratic race was called, with Victor Marx and Scott Bottoms trailing behind her. Regardless of which Republican emerges from that primary, the nominee faces a steep climb in November against Weiser in a state where Democrats have built a commanding electoral advantage in statewide contests.
Citas Notables
Bennet argued he could be more effective fighting Trump and advancing policy as governor, while Weiser leaned on his experience as Colorado's attorney general and his legal background— Campaign positioning during the primary race
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did Bennet lose despite having so much establishment backing?
He had the traditional endorsements, but Weiser tapped into something else—progressive energy and his own record as attorney general. Sometimes the establishment pick isn't enough when voters want to see what someone has actually done.
What does this mean for the Senate seat Bennet holds?
He keeps it. If he'd won the governorship, Colorado would have faced a special election to fill his seat. Now that doesn't happen. The state avoids that disruption.
Is Weiser actually favored in November?
Heavily. Colorado has become a Democratic state in statewide elections. Whoever wins the Republican primary—Kirkmeyer or one of her opponents—will be fighting uphill.
What was the core difference between these two candidates?
Bennet said he could do more as governor. Weiser said, look at what I've already done as attorney general. One was about potential; the other was about a track record.
Did this surprise people?
Yes. Bennet came in with more than 200 endorsements from major figures. An upset like this reshapes how people think about what matters in a primary.