Victor Marx has secured the Republican nomination for Colorado governor, according to the Associated Press on Thursday. Marx, a self-described high-risk humanitarian and Marine veteran, defeated three other candidates in the June 30 primary to challenge Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser in the Nov. 3 general election.
Primary Victory and Opponents
Marx overcame State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, State House Rep. Scott Bottoms, and write-in candidate Kelvin K-Man Wimberly. A Freedom IEC poll from last month showed Marx with 59.2% support, Kirkmeyer at 15.1%, and Bottoms at 6.3%, with nearly 20% undecided. Marx is the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, which aims to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ primarily to youth.
Unconventional Candidate
Marx, endorsed by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R), has made controversial claims, including that he hunts demons and that his stepfather forced him to behead a cat and kill a man as a child. In a May interview with 9News, he refused to answer whether he had killed anyone as an adult, stating, I don't think that's important. This is his first run for office, and he has raised significantly more campaign funds than his primary opponents, though CBS News reported some funding may be illegal.
Primary Debate and Internal Party Strife
At the primary debate, Kirkmeyer and Bottoms called Marx a liar. Marx brought his dog, Regan, to the event. The Colorado Republican Party has been marked by internal fighting and financial issues.
Barbara Kirkmeyer's Background
Kirkmeyer, state senator for District 23 since 2021, previously served as Weld County Commissioner for 20 years. She was part of a 12-year-old secession effort to create a 51st state from 11 Northern Colorado counties, which she called successful because it made us stronger. Colorado Politics described her as the last, best hope for the Colorado GOP. At a September campaign launch, she said, Colorado is ready for a new direction, ready for a common-sense conservative leader.
Scott Bottoms' Platform
Bottoms, a Navy veteran and lead pastor at the Church at Briargate, is a state House representative for District 15. He is a friend of conservative podcaster Joe Oltmann, who has attacked Polis Jewish identities and called for the arrest and hanging of state officials. Bottoms argues Colorado is too liberal and has focused his campaign on restructuring education to give Coloradans more money, while claiming without evidence that state lawmakers run a child sex trafficking ring.
Historical Context
Colorado has elected only one Republican governor in the past 50 years: Bill Owens, first elected in 1999. Marx will now face Democrat Phil Weiser, the state attorney general, in the general election to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis.
