2026 Colorado Governors Race

Ethics complaints. Gov. Jared Polis’ final year. New leaders. A lawmaker who died in November. The legislature has a lot to navigate in 2026 beyond its policy agenda.

State Sen. Mark Baisley is leaving the race to run instead for U.S. Senate. Former U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez has left the GOP to become unaffiliated.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who’s running for governor in 2026, says he supports a push to redraw the state’s congressional districts before the next census — a major break from Colorado Democrats’ usual defense of the state’s independent redistricting commission. Weiser argues the move is needed to counter extreme gerrymanders in Republican-led states. The proposal, which would require a constitutional amendment, would let the governor appoint a temporary commission to redraw maps. Governor Jared Polis and Senator Michael Bennet have both expressed skepticism about the plan.

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet voiced strong concerns about health care, the economy, fairness in voting, and other issues at a town hall in Durango Tuesday.

Bennet set a new record for the second quarter of an off year, but Attorney General Phil Weiser currently has a cash-on-hand advantage.