The 2022 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jared Polis won election to a second term, defeating Republican University of Colorado regent Heidi Ganahl by a decisive margin. Ganahl conceded on election night. The primary election was held on June 28. Polis won two counties he lost in 2018: Grand and Las Animas.
Polis's 2022 victory marked the first time in American history that an openly gay politician was re-elected governor of a state. Having won more than 58% of the vote, Polis had the best performance for a re-elected Colorado governor since Bill Owens in 2002, the best for a Democrat since Roy Romer in 1990, and the highest raw vote total ever in a Colorado gubernatorial race.
Democratic assembly Candidates Nominated at assembly Jared Polis, incumbent governor Running mate: Dianne Primavera, incumbent lieutenant governor
Eliminated at assembly None
Results
Republican primary
Candidates Nominee Heidi Ganahl, member of the Regents of the University of Colorado Running mate: Danny Moore, businessman
Eliminated in primary Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker and former director of the Small Business Administration for Colorado; candidate for governor in 2018 and for U.S. Senate in 2016
Eliminated at convention Laurie Clark Darryl Gibbs, truck driver and U.S. Air Force veteran Jon Gray-Ginsberg Danielle Neuschwanger, realtor Jim Rundberg, U.S. Army veteran, independent candidate for governor in 2014, and Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2016
Declined Guy Benson, political pundit, Fox News contributor, and political editor for Townhall Ken Buck, U.S. representative from , former chair of the Colorado Republican Party, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (endorsed Ganahl)
Endorsements
Results
American Constitution convention
Candidates Nominee Danielle Neuschwanger, realtor (previously ran for Republican nomination) Running mate: Darryl Gibbs, truck driver and U.S. Air Force veteran (previously ran for Republican nomination)
General election Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report July 29, 2022Inside Elections July 22, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 12, 2022PoliticoApril 1, 2022 RCPOctober 20, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022538July 31, 2022Elections DailyNovember 7, 2022
Endorsements
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated JaredPolis (D) HeidiGanahl (R) OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 26 – November 5, 2022November 8, 202253.0%42.3%4.7%Polis +10.7FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightJune 8 – November 8, 2022November 8, 202254.1%41.8%4.1%Polis +12.3270ToWin270ToWinNovember 1–7, 2022November 8, 202254.0%42.0%4.0%Polis +12.0Average53.7%42.0%4.3%Polis +11.7
Graphical summary
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis (D) HeidiGanahl (R) Other Undecidedco/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)November 3–7, 2022856 (LV)± 3.3%54%43%2%2%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)November 2–5, 20221,983 (LV)± 2.0%55%43%2%–The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)October 30 – November 1, 20221,084 (LV)± 2.9%50%43%5%3%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 26–29, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%54%40%4%3%54%41%4%–The Trafalgar Group (R)October 25–27, 20221,174 (LV)± 2.9%50%42%6%3%CU Boulder/YouGovCU Boulder/YouGovOctober 11–19, 2022709 (LV)± 4.4%57%41%2%–CiviqsCiviqsOctober 15–18, 2022600 (LV)± 5.0%55%40%2%3%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D)October 6–11, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%52%34%6%8%54%39%–7%Marist CollegeMarist CollegeOctober 3–6, 20221,127 (RV)± 4.7%54%36%2%7%983 (LV)± 5.0%54%39%3%5%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)October 3–6, 20221,005 (LV)± 3.0%56%39%3%2%Keating Research/Magellan StrategiesKeating Research/Magellan StrategiesSeptember 18–26, 20221,060 (LV)± 3.0%51%34%2%12%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)September 20–24, 20221,078 (LV)± 2.9%49%41%4%6%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeSeptember 18–19, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%53%36%2%9%Remington Research Group (R)Remington Research Group (R)August 21–22, 20221,503 (LV)± 2.5%49%42%–9%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)August 15–19, 20221,087 (LV)± 2.9%47%42%6%5%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 2–8, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%50%32%5%13%54%37%–9%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) February 11–15, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%53%37%–10%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) October 19–24, 2021800 (RV)± 3.5%52%35%–13%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 17–23, 2021800 (RV)± 3.5%54%34%–12%
Jared Polis vs. Greg Lopez Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis (D) GregLopez (R) Danielle UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)June 2–8, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%52%32%6%10%53%39%–8% Jared Polis vs. Danielle Neuschwanger Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis (D) Danielle UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)February 11–15, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%51%40%9% Jared Polis vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JaredPolis (D) GenericRepublican UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 2–8, 2022800 (RV)± 3.4%54%38%8%Global Strategy Group (D)February 11–15, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%54%38%8%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)January 12–13, 2022630 (LV)± 3.9%49%44%8%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 17–23, 2021800 (RV)± 3.5%49%39%12%
Debates +2022 Colorado gubernatorial general election debatesDateHostModeratorLink Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant Absent Non-invitee Invitee WithdrawnJared PolisHeidi Ganahl2Oct. 14, 2022CBS Colorado
Results
By county Despite losing the state, Ganahl won 36 of 64 counties. CountyJared PolisDemocraticHeidi GanahlRepublicanVarious candidatesOther partiesMarginTotal#%#%#%#%Adams99,62559.43%63,96038.15%4,0392.42%35,66521.28%167,624Alamosa3,02251.04%2,67445.16%2253.80%3485.88%5,921Arapahoe162,30463.12%89,65634.87%5,1662.01%72,64828.25%257,126Archuleta3,64146.62%3,96150.71%2082.67% -320 -4.09%7,810Baca29817.05%1,10363.13%34618.82% -757 -44.31%1,747Bent62734.26%1,09159.61%1126.13% -464 -25.35%1,830Boulder132,17380.06%30,45418.45%2,4501.49%101,71961.61%165,077Broomfield25,00666.72%11,79631.47%6781.81%13,21035.25%37,480Chaffee6,80757.93%4,64639.54%2962.53%2,16118.39%11,749Cheyenne11512.57%75882.84%424.59% -643 -70.27%915Clear Creek3,11860.19%1,91937.04%1432.77%1,19923.15%5,180Conejos1,65948.08%1,70249.33%892.59% -43 -1.25%3,450Costilla1,12066.82%50730.25%492.93%61336.57%1,676Crowley40529.39%86162.48%1128.13% -456 -33.09%1,378Custer1,14034.12%2,10362.95%982.93% -963 -28.82%3,341Delta5,65135.50%9,75361.27%5133.23% -4,102 -25.77%15,917Denver234,25082.36%46,04616.19%4,1281.45%188,20466.17%284,424Dolores34826.79%80662.04%14511.17% -458 -35.25%1,299Douglas93,02248.78%94,31249.46%3,3561.76% -1,290 -0.68%190,690Eagle15,23068.53%6,66129.97%3311.50%8,56938.56%22,222El Paso133,44746.82%144,38450.65%7,1962.53% -10,937 -3.83%285,027Elbert4,11825.30%11,61871.37%5413.33% -7,500 -46.07%16,277Fremont7,16535.88%12,08760.54%7133.58% -4,922 -24.66%19,965Garfield13,44354.78%10,44442.56%6512.66%2,99912.22%24,538Gilpin2,02359.20%1,30238.10%922.70%72121.10%3,417Grand4,16251.98%3,64945.58%1952.44%5136.40%8,006Gunnison6,18467.69%2,73329.91%2182.40%3,45137.78%9,135Hinsdale24648.14%25149.12%142.74% -5 -0.98%511Huerfano2,10254.47%1,65642.91%1012.62%44611.56%3,859Jackson14020.53%52677.12%162.35% -386 -56.59%682Jefferson185,39861.76%108,63836.19%6,1292.05%76,76025.57%300,165Kiowa9913.04%56274.04%9812.92% -463 -61.00%759Kit Carson47515.69%2,46581.46%862.85% -1,990 -65.77%3,026La Plata18,35061.77%10,68935.98%6652.25%7,66125.79%29,704Lake1,89963.83%99133.31%852.86%90830.52%2,975Larimer105,58859.88%66,74937.85%3,9912.27%38,83922.03%176,328Las Animas3,41150.98%3,07145.89%2093.13%3405.09%6,691Lincoln39018.57%1,60876.57%1024.86% -1,218 -58.00%2,100Logan1,86022.53%5,92571.76%4715.71% -4,065 -49.23%8,256Mesa30,57141.56%40,37654.89%2,6043.55% -9,805 -13.33%73,551Mineral32045.20%36251.13%263.67% -42 -5.93%708Moffat1,05819.53%4,17477.04%1863.43% -3,116 -57.51%5,418Montezuma5,18741.43%6,77254.09%5614.48% -1,585 -12.66%12,520Montrose7,52936.02%12,83561.41%5362.57% -5,306 -25.39%20,900Morgan2,67926.38%7,09069.82%3853.80% -4,411 -43.44%10,154Otero2,95140.72%4,05355.93%2423.35% -1,102 -15.21%7,246Ouray2,24262.87%1,25535.19%691.94%98727.68%3,566Park4,46344.41%5,27152.45%3163.14% -808 -8.04%10,050Phillips38419.50%1,51977.14%663.36% -1,135 -57.64%1,969Pitkin7,56579.00%1,90719.91%1041.09%5,65859.09%9,576Prowers1,13926.57%2,84766.42%3007.01% -1,708 -39.85%4,286Pueblo36,60254.21%28,64542.43%2,2653.36%7,95711.78%67,512Rio Blanco50716.60%2,40878.87%1384.53% -1,901 -62.27%3,053Rio Grande2,14043.19%2,48550.15%3306.66% -345 -6.96%4,955Routt9,23866.59%4,41531.82%2201.59%4,82334.77%13,873Saguache1,58057.12%1,06138.36%1254.52%51918.76%2,766San Juan37268.89%15428.52%142.59%21840.37%540San Miguel3,19978.29%81519.94%721.77%2,38458.35%4,086Sedgwick31226.85%80769.45%433.70% -495 -42.60%1,162Summit10,38372.73%3,65025.57%2431.70%6,73347.16%14,276Teller4,84335.74%8,43062.21%2772.05% -3,587 -26.47%13,550Washington31413.14%1,97182.50%1044.36% -1,657 -69.36%2,389Weld52,18640.62%72,54256.46%3,7552.92% -20,356 -15.84%128,483Yuma65616.55%3,07977.67%2295.78% -2,423 -61.12%3,964Totals1,468,48158.53%983,04039.18%57,3092.29%485,44119.35%2,508,830
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
Grand (largest city: Granby) Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
By congressional district Polis won six of eight congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican. District Polis Ganahl Representative 82% 16%Diana DeGette 72% 26%Joe Neguse50%47%Lauren Boebert 42% 55%Ken Buck47%50%Doug Lamborn63%35%Jason Crow60%38%Ed Perlmutter (117th Congress)Brittany Pettersen (118th Congress) 53% 44%Yadira Caraveo
Analysis Incumbent governor Jared Polis easily won re-election by 19.3%, a margin much larger than aggregate polling predicted. Polis piled up massive margins in the heavily populous North Central Colorado Urban Area, which contains the state capital Denver plus its surrounding suburbs Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood, and Broomfield; in addition to other major cities Boulder and Fort Collins, home to the University of Colorado and Colorado State University respectively. Outside the Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins region, Polis also won a long row of counties along the Rocky Mountains from Routt in the north to La Plata in the south, which contains a number of liberal leaning ski resort towns like Telluride, Aspen, and Steamboat Springs. In Southern Colorado, a region historically known for coal mining, and home to a sizable Hispanic population, Polis managed to halt the decline in support for Democrats that had been taking place here since the mid-2010s in both state and federal races. Polis also won the relatively conservative city of Colorado Springs, the first Democrat to do so in recent history, along with greatly increasing his vote share in conservative-leaning urban counties compared to 2018. Polis's definitive victory likely helped other Democrats down the ballot to win their races or win them by comfortable margins, allowing Democrats to keep control of the state government.