Victor Marx, a Colorado Springs resident and political newcomer, emerged as the Republican nominee for governor after a tight primary race that was not decided until more than a week after Election Day.
Late counting, narrow margin
With the Associated Press calling the race in his favor, Marx held a lead of roughly 2,500 votes over state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer when the results were declared. The early and absentee ballot tallies initially favored Kirkmeyer, but that margin narrowed as ballots cast on June 30 and later counted votes were added to the totals. Election officials also tallied overseas ballots and allowed voters to correct mistakes on ballots during a post-election curing period that concluded Wednesday.
The drawn-out process underscored how divided Republican primary voters were. State Rep. Scott Bottoms, an ultraconservative lawmaker, finished a distant third, splitting conservative support and leaving the party with a nominee who represents a sharp break from established GOP figures.
What Marx’s nomination means
Marx’s emergence gives Democrats a distinct line of attack for the November race. The Republican Party has not won the governor’s office in Colorado in 14 years, and Marx’s background — described in contemporaneous reporting as including claims that he "once killed a man at age 7" — will likely figure in campaign messaging and opposition research heading into the general election.
"he once killed a man at age 7"
Marx is a first-time candidate who leads a nonprofit ministry. Kirkmeyer ran as the establishment choice, with prior experience in the administration of former Gov. Bill Owens and six years in the state legislature. Analysts say the primary results show a significant share of Republican voters gravitated toward more extreme or outsider options: about 60% of participating GOP voters preferred candidates positioned to the right of Kirkmeyer.
- Nominee: Victor Marx (political newcomer, nonprofit ministry leader)
- Runner-up: Barbara Kirkmeyer (state senator, establishment candidate)
- Third place: Scott Bottoms (state representative, ultraconservative)
Looking ahead to November
Marx will face Democratic incumbent Gov. Phil Weiser in November. For Republicans to remain competitive statewide, strategists say the nominee will need to boost fundraising, broaden appeal with unaffiliated voters and pivot from the primary to a general-election message that can attract moderates. Unaffiliated voters represent about half of Colorado’s electorate and frequently determine statewide outcomes.
| Candidate | Profile | Primary result |
|---|---|---|
| Victor Marx | Colorado Springs resident; nonprofit ministry leader; first-time candidate | Nominee (lead ~2,500 votes) |
| Barbara Kirkmeyer | State senator; ran as establishment, prior state government experience | Runner-up |
| Scott Bottoms | State representative; ultraconservative | Distant third |
The extended counting period — driven by cure deadlines, absentee and overseas ballots — illustrates how Colorado’s rules for ballot verification can influence tight races. Campaigns on both sides are likely to emphasize every avenue for turnout and ballot verification as they prepare for November.
This statewide nomination reshapes the fall matchup and will force both parties to recalibrate strategy in a state where unaffiliated voters often decide close contests. The contest between Marx and Weiser is now set, and the weeks ahead will test whether a newcomer with a controversial past can build a viable coalition for the general election.
