Colorado AG Phil Weiser wins Democratic primary for governor over Sen. Michael Bennet

[Celerity]

NBC News projects that Weiser will move on to the general election after defeating Bennet, who has served in the Senate for 17 years.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/colorado-governor-democratic-primary-election-winner-weiser-rcna351833

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has won the state’s Democratic primary for governor, NBC News projects, upsetting Sen. Michael Bennet after a campaign that centered on who would be more effective in standing up to President Donald Trump. While both candidates have long been mainstays in Colorado Democratic politics, Weiser entered the race as the underdog. His victory signals that his antiestablishment message broke through in an environment where Democrats across the country have expressed frustration with the status quo, including in their own party.

Weiser will now head into the general election to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Jared Polis as the front-runner in a state where voters have not elected a Republican governor in more than two decades. Colorado’s GOP primary for governor features Victor Marx, a Marine veteran and ministry leader; state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer; and state Rep. Scott Bottoms.

Bennet, who has served in the U.S. Senate for 17 years and ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, was seen as a clear favorite when he launched his gubernatorial primary bid last year. But Weiser, who is serving his second term as attorney general, gained traction as the two candidates traded attacks over their anti-Trump credentials in a race where there was little daylight between them on policy. Both have pushed affordability, housing and environmental issues, as well as fighting Trump’s immigration agenda, as top priorities.

Weiser has attacked Bennet for confirming several of Trump’s Cabinet nominees as a member of the Senate, while casting him as a Washington insider. “The Democratic Party doesn’t show up, listen and fight,” Weiser said at one debate this month. During another recent debate, Weiser said that “Congress is not doing its job” and that “Congress should be a check on a lawless, bullying administration. It hasn’t been.” Weiser has also attacked Bennet for missing votes as a senator — though one of his lines on the stump has been “Michael Bennet for Senate, Phil Weiser for governor.”

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[Raven123]

1. Another episode of the voters are fed up and not gonna take it anymore

I like what I know about Bennet, but clearly people want new faces in leadership positions.

[hlthe2b]

3. Or they just don't want to lose him in the Senate--something I heard a great deal.

Both are well known in Colorado but I think pragmatism was at play.

[fujiyamasan]

7. I'm glad to hear he didn't step down to run for governor

The party doesn’t need to spend more on another senate seat to defend. Granted the republicans are at a new low statewide in CO with little talent and a weak bench.

[hlthe2b]

2. Well, Bennet returns to the Senate, so Dems don't risk the seat to a Dem not elected.

I went back and forth between the two for weeks on the governor's race. I guess when most are torn between two candidates, that is not a bad thing. Bennet is easily misjudged, but he can be a tough-as-nails SOB when he needs to--and has against Trump. Weiser is primed as CO's AG to continue to stand up to Trump, while making sure Colorado's interests are served.

But, I am thrilled that Jena Griswold (our current tough-as-nails SOS who went after Tina Peters and led the Democratic SOS group the past several years) is the DEM primary winner for AG. I hope she can prevail.

[Music Man]

4. I really respect Michael Bennet. I hate primaries where I like both people.

I'm glad he'll be in the Senate, though.

For what it's worth, I do think the Governor appoints that vacancy, so it's not like there would have been a special election that would risk going to a Republlican. It was safe for the rest of Bennet's term anyway. Nevertheless, it's one fewer thing to worry about.

[hlthe2b]

5. Yes. But while it would have been a Dem-appointee, they would not be a "known" figure

specific to the Senate. No surprises is good nowadays...

[Aepps22]

6. Know Phil Personally Glad For CO

Super happy for Phil and the State. After the turncoat Polis we need leadership in the state. Mike was fine but he needs to stay in DC.

[question everything]

8. Was an interesting analysis yesterday on PBS

Weiser ran as a fighter while Bennet was viewed as just "one of 100" in the senate.

[Boo1]

9. Lol @ trying to make this an anti-establishment result

Both of these guys are mainstream Democratic establishment.

[PatrickforB]

10. I was glad to see Weiser win, and we were rooting for Melat Kiros because

she is the DSA candidate and thus best represents our middle class interests at the kitchen table. These people are talking about making REAL change and that is what is needed.

You may disagree with me, and certainly all of you are free to do so, but I think we have a real narrow window to save this republic. Trump has pulled it down around our knees and it will take God knows how long to fix it, but it cannot be fixed without pulling Wall Street's teeth, taxing the hell out of the billionaire robber barons, getting rid of Citizens United, and imposing a stakeholder approach to corporate governance to replace the current system that holds shareholder profits above human life and the earth itself. Our whole system encourages and rewards sociopathic behavior and it is far past time for a change.

A popular change. A middle class change. To make this country what it should be - a place where anyone can come here, work hard and REALLY get ahead, have a good life, have enough, make ends meet.

Plus, we gotta get rid of these Jim Crow laws, impeach several members of the Supreme Court for corruption, and otherwise clean house. You know, Trump talked about draining the swamp, and he presently IS the swamp, but there are others buried in the stinking Wall Street - billionaire bog. The Military Industrial Complex needs to have its teeth pulled and reformers are going to have to impose block chain on federal government spending to ensure transparency and there need to be stiff penalties for corruption.

It does not have to be this way - with us getting squeezed mercilessly by sociopathic profit mongering greed-heads who have absolutely no moral compass. It is past time for a real voter-driven political revolution. I mean, I was disappointed in what Carville said about not seating the DSA people in the Democratic Caucus. What is with that? These DSA people are essentially New Deal Democrats. The Third Way has killed America's middle class.

We have to have some real change. And we need to end this stupid and pointless war. It drives me nuts that these greed-heads bombed Iran. I mean, I keep thinking about that poor little girl's arm found after we double tapped that school. How devastated her mom must be, her whole family. And I think about 1953 and how the CIA and MI6 got rid of Mossadegh and set Shah Pahlavi in power because they didn't like the democratically elected Mossadegh nationalizing Iran's oil wells. We have to stop doing shit like that.

Wall Street has been the tail wagging the dog for FAR TOO LONG.