Victor Marx, a Marine Corps veteran, won the Republican primary for Colorado governor against state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, who had the backing of the state's GOP establishment. The primary election occurred on June 30, with results finalized on July 6, showing Marx leading Kirkmeyer by fewer than 3,000 votes. Colorado state Rep. Scott Bottoms was the third candidate, finishing significantly behind the frontrunners.
Kirkmeyer and Bottoms had previously indicated they would not support Marx in the general election, labeling him as an unqualified candidate. Marx has made claims about his past, including a controversial statement regarding an incident from his childhood.
Marx is set to face Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in the general election scheduled for November, following Weiser's strong performance in the Democratic primary. After his primary win, Marx expressed gratitude to his supporters and called for those who did not vote for him to consider supporting his campaign moving forward. Kirkmeyer also released a statement reflecting on her campaign and the upcoming election, emphasizing the importance of voter choice.
Rep. Lauren Boebert endorsed Marx during the primary, while Rep. Gabe Evans congratulated him on his victory. Former President Donald Trump has not endorsed Marx.