Both Democratic candidates share responsibility for Colorado’s documented failures, but voters have no mechanism to punish either
U.S. Senator Michael Bennet holds a 31-point lead over Attorney General Phil Weiser in Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor, according to the most recent polling from June 2025. The Global Strategy Group survey showed Bennet at 53%, Weiser at 22%, with 25% undecided.
Colorado hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens left office in 2007. Cook Political Report rates the 2026 race “Solid D.” The Democratic primary is the general election.
Weiser entered the race in January 2025. By September 30, he had raised $3.8 million in direct contributions, outpacing Bennet’s $2.7 million raised after his April entry. But independent expenditure committees backing Bennet raised $2.2 million compared to $214,000 for Weiser — a 10-to-1 advantage that signals Democratic establishment consolidation.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold declined to run and switched to the attorney general race. Congressmen Joe Neguse and Jason Crow endorsed Bennet. Former Governor John Hickenlooper endorsed Bennet. State House Speaker Julie McCluskie endorsed Bennet. The field cleared.
Both remaining candidates served in statewide office during 18 years of Democratic governance that produced systematic policy failures.
Proposition FF illustrates the pattern. Voters approved Healthy School Meals for All in 2022 based on cost projections of $48.5 million to $78.5 million annually. The program cost $166 million in its first year. Current projections show $150.8 million annual costs — double the maximum estimate voters received.
The Joint Budget Committee raided the State Education Fund to cover shortfalls, taking money from classroom instruction to pay for cafeteria meals. Wage increases for cafeteria workers and local food purchasing grants that voters approved were delayed. A $50 million funding gap remains.
Healthcare for undocumented immigrants was projected to cost $2 million. Actual cost: $32 million — a 1,600% overrun. The state responded by cutting enrollment in half through a lottery system rather than addressing cost estimation methodology.
Wolf compensation allocated $350,000 annually. Two ranchers received $343,000 in the first year.
The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform reports 85% of Colorado’s rural hospitals operate at unsustainable margins. Twelve face closure risk. Colorado avoided rural hospital closures for 40 years. That record may end under policies both candidates helped shape.
Colorado’s tax competitiveness ranking fell from 22nd to 33rd nationally between 2020 and 2026 while every neighboring state improved or held stronger positions. Wyoming ranks first. Idaho ninth. Utah 15th. The state projects 0.6% job growth for 2026, matching population growth and producing no per-capita employment gains. Farm income dropped 18% to $1.8 billion.
An $850 million structural budget deficit faces fiscal year 2026-27. No TABOR refunds are projected for the first time since the pandemic. Property tax increases take effect as temporary discounts expire.
Bennet has served in elected office since 2009. Weiser since 2019. Neither raised concerns about Proposition FF cost projections before voters approved it. Neither proposed alternatives when healthcare cost overruns emerged. Neither offered solutions when rural hospital margins became unsustainable.
Both now campaign on identical priorities: affordability and protecting Colorado from Trump administration policies. Neither explains how they would prevent programs from running 65% to 1,600% over estimates.
The June poll showed 74% of Democratic primary voters hold favorable views of Bennet compared to 45% for Weiser. The gap reflects name recognition. Bennet converts 61% of voters who recognize him into supporters. Weiser converts 42%. Policy differences remain undefined.
Governor Jared Polis spent $23 million of personal funds winning office in 2018 and $13.2 million winning reelection in 2022 by 19 points. Neither Bennet nor Weiser approaches that self-funding level. Bennet relies on establishment PAC support. Weiser relies on donor contributions. Both depend on the Democratic Party infrastructure that produced the governance they now promise to improve.
Republican candidates face structural disadvantages beyond funding. The party hasn’t won a gubernatorial race in 23 years. Most Republican candidates polling under 5% name recognition. The most recent Republican governor served when Bennet was still in high school.
Colorado voters seeking accountability for systematic cost overruns, declining competitiveness, rural hospital deterioration, and an $850 million budget deficit can choose between the senator who watched it happen and the attorney general who watched it happen. Or they can vote for Republicans with no demonstrated path to victory.
The Democratic establishment consolidated behind Bennet through independent expenditure committees providing 10-to-1 funding advantages while other potential candidates declined to run. The consolidation occurred despite documented failures during 18 years when Democrats controlled the governorship and, since 2018, the legislature.
This represents what happens when party consolidation meets effective one-party rule. Voters can express preferences between individuals who served during policy failures. They cannot reject the governance model that produced those failures. The accountability mechanism requires competitive general elections. Colorado hasn’t provided one for governor in two decades.
The structural deficit remains. Rural hospitals operate at unsustainable margins. Cost estimation failures persist across multiple programs. Tax competitiveness declines while neighboring states improve. The state enters 2026 with anemic job growth, no TABOR refunds, and mounting mandatory costs running far beyond voter-approved estimates.
Bennet leads by 31 points six months before the primary. Weiser trails despite raising more from individual donors because establishment PACs chose otherwise. And Colorado voters prepare to ratify a choice already made by the party infrastructure that oversaw the failures both candidates now promise to address.
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