Colorado Republicans have three distinctly different choices for governor: an experienced legislator focused on governing, a constitutional conservative promising dramatic reforms, and a political outsider whose personal story has become central to his campaign.
Barbara Kirkmeyer has built her campaign around governing experience. A fourth-generation Coloradan, current state senator and former Weld County commissioner for more than two decades, she argues Colorado’s affordability, infrastructure and public safety challenges stem from years of poor policy decisions rather than inevitable decline.
Kirkmeyer’s platform emphasizes lowering insurance and energy costs, reducing property taxes, implementing a $6 billion transportation plan without tax increases, requiring more education dollars to reach classrooms, strengthening sentencing requirements and reducing regulations she believes drive up costs. Her record includes leading Weld County to zero debt, advancing Interstate 25 expansion, increasing special education funding and helping stabilize Colorado’s rural healthcare safety net through bipartisan legislation.
Critics continue to raise her role in a 2013 effort by Weld County and other rural counties to explore secession. Kirkmeyer notes voters rejected the proposal but argues it drew attention to rural frustrations ignored by Front Range leaders.
Her endorsements include former Gov. Bill Owens, former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans and former District Attorney George Brauchler.
Scott Bottoms, an evangelical pastor and state representative, offers a far different vision. He describes his campaign as a constitutional restoration effort to “Reclaim Colorado.” He argues Colorado lawmakers routinely pass unconstitutional laws and that state government is plagued by corruption and mismanagement. He claimed individuals connected to what he described as Vice President JD Vance’s fraud team were investigating more than $30 billion in Colorado government fraud. Recovering those funds, he argues, would support his proposal to eliminate property taxes while funding schools, roads, fire districts and other local services.
Bottoms also claimed Colorado has become “the most pedophile-friendly state” in the nation and alleged Democratic elected officials were involved in buying children. He said the information was provided to the FBI but acknowledged he could not prove it. Throughout the interview, he made sweeping claims of fraud and criminal conduct while offering little supporting evidence.
He said he would be a “veto-heavy” governor, particularly on issues involving the Second Amendment, parental rights and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Bottoms supports a full pardon for former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and called the judge who presided over her case a “hack activist judge” who should be removed from office. He defended right-wing podcaster Joe Oltmann after Oltmann referred to Colorado’s Jewish elected leaders as a “synagogue of Satan,” drawing accusations of antisemitism. Bottoms argued the remarks were taken out of context. Bottoms describes himself as strongly pro-Israel and supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Victor Marx, founder of All Things Possible Ministries and a Christian minister, has built a following through faith-based work and extraordinary rescue stories. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert endorses him.
Marx’s candidacy has generated considerable controversy. During a recent 9News debate, both Kirkmeyer and Bottoms questioned his credibility. Kirkmeyer said Marx tells “tall tales” she does not believe, while Bottoms called him a fraud. Marx defended his record, but questions about his claims persist. The Herald editorial board attempted to interview Marx without success. This assessment is based on campaign materials, debate appearances and reporting by other Colorado news organizations.
The candidates also differed on the Peters case. Kirkmeyer questioned Peters’ sentence but criticized Gov. Jared Polis for turning what she described as a quasi-judicial process into a political one. Marx indicated he would likely pardon Peters.
For Republicans looking ahead to November, Kirkmeyer is best positioned to advance. She is the only candidate in the field with extensive governing experience. Running government is different from campaigning against it. Kirkmeyer has spent decades solving problems and delivering results.
Bottoms offers a confrontational constitutional vision built around allegations of fraud and criminal conduct that he has yet to substantiate publicly. Marx offers an outsider candidacy built around extraordinary personal claims and faith-based leadership, but without experience governing public institutions. Of the three candidates, Kirkmeyer makes the strongest case that she is prepared to step into the governor’s office on day one and govern effectively.
