2018 Colorado gubernatorial election
The 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next and the 43rd Governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper was term-limited and could not seek reelection to a third consecutive term. The primary election was held on June 26.
The major party nominees were U.S. Congressman Jared Polis for the Democratic Party and State Treasurer Walker Stapleton for the Republican Party. The general election took place on November 6, 2018, with Polis winning by 268,000 votes. Polis' victory marked the fourth straight election in which Colorado elected a Democratic governor.
Democratic primary
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Withdrawn
- Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative
- Noel Ginsburg, businessman
Declined
- Steve Lebsock, State Representative
- Michael Merrifield, State Senator
- Joe Neguse, former executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and nominee for secretary of state in 2014
- Joe Salazar, State Representative
- Ken Salazar, former U.S. Senator and former United States Secretary of the Interior
Caucus results
- Noel Ginsburg, dropped out of race
- Mike Johnston
- Cary Kennedy
- Jared Polis
- Erik Underwood
- Uncommitted
Endorsements
Polling
Results
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominated
- Walker Stapleton, Colorado State Treasurer
Eliminated in the primary
- Greg Lopez, former Mayor of Parker
- Victor Mitchell, former State Representative
- Doug Robinson, businessman
Eliminated at the convention
- Steve Barlock, Trump Co-chair & Coalitions, 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Withdrawn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
- 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
- Jim Rundberg, businessman
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
- Steve House, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party and candidate for governor in 2014
- Kent Thiry, Chairman & CEO of DaVita Inc.
- Brian Watson, businessman and candidate for the State House in 2012
Caucus results
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%
- 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 – 1.6%
- Uncommitted – 7.2%
Endorsements
Polling
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ResultsThird party and independent candidatesCandidatesDeclared
Predictions;NotesEndorsementsPolling
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