Full Breakdown
Victor Marx Takes Narrow Lead Over Barbara Kirkmeyer in Colorado GOP Gubernatorial Primary
7/2/2026, 4:01:40 PM
Core Event: Tight Primary Results
Victor Marx narrowly leads state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer. At 5 p.m., Marx had 39.9 % to Kirkmeyer’s 39.5 %; AP later reported 39.9 % to 39.4 % with a 2,262-vote margin out of roughly 500,000 votes. Rep. Scott Bottoms trails with about 21 %.
Context & Implications
Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens left office in 2007 and has missed all statewide races since 2016. The primary winner will face Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser in November, a race in which the GOP has not held the governor’s seat for more than a decade. By the time 92 % of ballots were counted, Marx led with 39.9 % (? 250,000 votes) to Kirkmeyer’s 39.4-39.5 % (? 249,000 votes); Bottoms held about 21 %. The 2,000-2,262-vote gap equals roughly 0.45 % of the total, triggering Colorado’s automatic-recount rule for margins <= 0.5 %.
Official Statements & Responses
Marx’s spokesman Roger Hudson said the campaign “feels more confident now than we did even last night, after seeing the numbers coming today.” Kirkmeyer, after briefly regaining a lead, said “the momentum is behind us, the trend is coming our way.” Both Kirkmeyer and Bottoms have publicly said they would not support Marx if he becomes the nominee, calling him a “con man” and “fraud.”
Criticism & Opposition
Kirkmeyer and Bottoms accused Marx of fabricating personal claims and exploiting his nonprofit for political gain, labeling him a con man and fraud. Their remarks underscore a split between establishment-aligned moderates and Marx’s outsider, religious-conservative base.
On-the-Ground Reports
About 400 supporters gathered at a ranch-resort in Larkspur for Marx’s watch party, listening to country music while a projector displayed live results. The crowd stayed upbeat as vote tallies shifted.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Kirkmeyer’s exact vote share (39.5 % vs 39.4 %) and on the precise margin (under 2,000 votes vs 2,262 votes). Final certification and any recount outcome have not yet been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We feel more confident (now) than we did even last night, after seeing the numbers coming today,” — Roger Hudson, spokesperson for Victor Marx
- “We peaked pretty much at the right time, the momentum is behind us, the trend is coming our way,” — Barbara Kirkmeyer, state senator
- “So it is too close to call tonight,” — Victor Marx, GOP gubernatorial candidate
- “We've kept pressing forward because the mission is simply to win and get our state back,” — Victor Marx, GOP gubernatorial candidate
What’s Next
If the final margin stays within 0.5 %, Colorado will trigger an automatic recount. The certified GOP nominee will then aim to unify the party and contest the November general election against Phil Weiser.
