The 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. The primary election was held on June 26.
The major party nominees were Democratic U.S. Representative Jared Polis and Republican State Treasurer Walker Stapleton. The general election took place on November 6, 2018, with Polis winning by 268,000 votes. This was the first Colorado gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates received over one million votes.
Polis's victory marked the fourth straight election in which Colorado elected a Democratic governor, the state's first Jewish governor and the first time in American electoral history that an openly gay politician was elected governor of a state.
Democratic primary With Hickenlooper ineligible to run for a third term in office, multiple Democratic politicians vied for the party's nomination for governor. Prior to his resignation in 2015, former lieutenant governor Joseph Garcia was seen as a probable candidate for governor in 2018.
Candidates Nominated Jared Polis, U.S. Representative
Eliminated in the primary Mike Johnston, former state senator Cary Kennedy, former Colorado State Treasurer and former CFO and Deputy Mayor of Denver Donna Lynne, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado
Eliminated at the convention Erik Underwood, former congressional aide, Republican candidate for GA-10 in 2007 and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016
Withdrawn Noel Ginsburg, businessman Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative (ran for reelection)
Declined Joseph Garcia, former lieutenant governor Steve Lebsock, State Representative (was running for State Treasurer before switching to the Republican Party, thus disqualifying him from the Democratic Primary) Michael Merrifield, State Senator Joe Neguse, former executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and nominee for secretary of state in 2014 (ran for CO-02) Joe Salazar, State Representative (ran for Attorney General) Ken Salazar, former U.S. senator and former United States Secretary of the Interior
Caucus results On March 6, 2018, Democrats of precincts across Colorado met and voted how many delegates each candidate who was caucusing on the ballot would get. As of March 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., 96.83% of precincts had reported and added up to the below results.
Cary Kennedy (11,700; 49.2%) Jared Polis (7,784; 32.7%) Mike Johnston (2,086; 8.8%) Noel Ginsburg (433; 1.8%), dropped out of race Erik Underwood (100; 0.4%) Uncommitted (1,668; 7%)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeJohnston CaryKennedy DonnaLynne JaredPolis Other UndecidedStrategies 360Strategies 360 May 29 – June 6, 2018 387 ± 5.0% 12% 23% 2% 34% – 29%Magellan Strategies (R)Magellan Strategies (R) May 30–31, 2018 503 ± 4.4% 9% 18% 3% 31% – 39%TargetPoint/GQRTargetPoint/GQR March 2018 – – – 18% – 18% 12% 52%Magellan Strategies (R)Magellan Strategies (R) March 20–23, 2018 410 ± 4.8% 8% 23% 5% 27% 1% 36%University of Colorado BoulderUniversity of Colorado Boulder November 9–15, 2017 357 ± 3.5% 4% 6% 4% 24% 2%Noel Ginsburg* 2%. *Withdrawn. 58%
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominated Walker Stapleton, Colorado State Treasurer
Eliminated in the primary Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker Victor Mitchell, former state representativeBunch, Joey. Republican Victor Mitchell is officially in the race for Colorado governor. ColoradoPolitics.com, February 14, 2017. Retrieved: 2017-02-14. Doug Robinson, businessman
Eliminated at the convention Steve Barlock, former Trump campaigner, Colorado Republican National Alternate Delegate and Elector Cynthia Coffman, Colorado Attorney General Barry Farah, businessman Lew Gaiter, Larimer County Commissioner
Withdrawn George Brauchler, District Attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District (ran for attorney general) Jim Rundberg, businessman JoAnne Silva, retired banker Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative, candidate for governor in 2014, Constitution Party nominee for governor in 2010, and candidate for President of the United States in 2008
Declined John Elway, general manager of the Denver Broncos and retired NFL player Owen Hill, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (ran for CO-05) Steve House, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party and candidate for governor in 2014 Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita Inc. Brian Watson, businessman and candidate for the State House in 2012 (ran for State Treasurer)
Caucus results Based on information shared by some key counties, as well as a recent survey, the following are believed to be results of the Republican Caucus from key counties.
Pueblo County Steve Barlock – 3.14% Cynthia Coffman – 7.55% Greg Lopez – 16.35% Victor Mitchell – 23.90% Doug Robinson – 3.15% Walker Stapleton – 45.91%
Douglas County Steve Barlock – 32.5% Cynthia Coffman – 4.6% Lew Gaiter III – 2.2% Greg Lopez – 18.8% Victor Mitchell – 7.7% Doug Robinson – 2.2% Walker Stapleton – 23.2% Tom Tancredo (dropped out of the race) – 1.6% Uncommitted – 7.2%
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CynthiaCoffman GregLopez VictorMitchell DougRobinson WalkerStapleton Other UndecidedMagellan Strategies (R)Magellan Strategies (R) June 6–7, 2018 593 ± 4.0% – 10% 23% 4% 36% – 27%TargetPoint/GQR March 2018 – – 7% – – – 15% 16% 62%Magellan Strategies (R)Magellan Strategies (R) February 26–27, 2018 647 ± 3.9% 13% – 5% 8% 26% 9% 39%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GeorgeBrauchler CynthiaCoffman VictorMitchell DougRobinson WalkerStapleton TomTancredo UndecidedUniversity of Colorado Boulder November 9–15, 2017 250 ± 3.5% 4% 6% 1% 1% 8% 25% 54%Braynard Group (R)Braynard Group (R) September 26–28, 2017 400 ± 3.2% 7% 6% 1% 0.3% 8.5% 22% 54%
Results
Third party and independent candidates Candidates Declared Paul Noel Fiorino (Independent), perennial candidate Marcus Giavanni (Independent), radio host Bill Hammons (Unity Party of America), insurance agent, chairman and founder of the Unity Party of America, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2016 Scott Helker (Libertarian)
General election Debates Dates Location Polis Stapleton LinkOctober 6, 2018Grand Junction, ColoradoParticipantParticipant Full debate - C-SPAN
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis(D) WalkerStapleton(R) ScottHelker(L) Other UndecidedMagellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies October 29–30, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 45% 40% 3% 1%Bill Hammons (U) with 1% 11%Keating Research/OnSight Public Affairs/Martin CampaignsKeating Research/OnSight Public Affairs/Martin Campaigns October 25–30, 2018 517 ± 4.3% 50% 42% 4% 1% 4%University of Colorado/YouGovUniversity of Colorado/YouGov October 12–17, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 54% 42% 3% – 2%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies October 8–10, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 47% 40% 4% 0%Bill Hammons (U) with 0% 9%Keating Research/Magellan StrategiesKeating Research/Magellan Strategies September 18–20, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 47% 40% 1% 0% 11%Kaiser Family Foundation/CO Health Foundation/SSRSKaiser Family Foundation/CO Health Foundation/SSRS August 15 – September 19, 2018 1,585 – 44% 33% – – 21%Public Policy Polling (D-CO Democratic Party)Public Policy Polling (D-CO Democratic Party) June 27–28, 2018 608 – 47% 40% – – 13%Strategies 360 May 29 – June 6, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 42% 37% – 3% 18%
with Cary Kennedy Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaryKennedy (D) WalkerStapleton (R) Other UndecidedStrategies 360Strategies 360 May 23 – June 6, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 43% 38% 4% 15%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican UndecidedClarity Campaign Labs (D-DAGA)Clarity Campaign Labs (D-DAGA) May 8–10, 2018 883 ± 3.3% 52% 37% 11%
with Tom Tancredo Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis (D) TomTancredo (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D-RBI/PolisPublic Policy Polling (D-RBI/Polis) December 4–5, 2017 770 ± 3.5% 46% 38% – 16%Braynard Group (R) September 26–28, 2017 1,000 ± 3.2% 25% 25% 3% 47%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error CaryKennedy (D) TomTancredo (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D-RBI/Polis) December 4–5, 2017 770 ± 3.5% 45% 38% – 17%Keating Research (D)Keating Research (D) November 9–13, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 50% 34% 3% 13%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeJohnston (D) TomTancredo (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D-RBI/Polis) December 4–5, 2017 770 ± 3.5% 43% 39% 18%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DonnaLynne (D) TomTancredo (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D-RBI/Polis) December 4–5, 2017 770 ± 3.5% 43% 38% 19%
Results
By county Despite losing the state, Stapleton won 38 of 64 counties.