Colorado AG Phil Weiser announces 2026 bid for governor
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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser confirmed the worst-kept secret in state politics Thursday: He's running for governor in 2026.
State of play: Weiser — a second-term Democrat and the first to announce a bid to succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis — has officially launched Colorado's gubernatorial race.
- Polis is term-limited and can't seek reelection in 2026.
What he's saying: "There are many reasons why I'm running to lead this state I love, but the biggest reason is simple: I'm committed to fighting for the people of Colorado," he said in a statement Thursday morning.
- "This campaign will focus on engaging with you and having real conversations, to hear what's on your mind, to learn how our state government can best serve you, and to get your ideas on how we can meet our challenges, together."
Between the lines: Weiser's announcement, made 18 months ahead of the June 2026 election, could deter others from entering the race.
- While his early entry provides a fundraising advantage, it also means he'll need to begin campaign spending sooner than his potential opponents.
Catch up quick: Weiser, a first-generation American, was elected attorney general in 2018 and reelected in 2022.
- The 56-year-old Denver resident enters the race boasting a record of protecting consumer rights, improving public safety and helping to combat the opioid crisis.
- He previously worked as the dean of the University of Colorado law school, as well as for the U.S. Department of Justice during the Obama administration and as a clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
- Weiser's family immigrated to the United States after his mother and grandmother were liberated from a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
What we're watching: Weiser's announcement is likely to usher in other bids in what's expected to be a crowded contest.
- Among the names being floated: Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse.
By the numbers: A Magellan Strategies poll on Colorado's Democratic governor primary election, released in December, showed Weiser trailing with 8% of the vote compared to Neguse (20%), Griswold (16%) and Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and a prominent political figure in Colorado (11%).
- The poll surveyed 630 registered Democratic and unaffiliated voters likely to participate in Colorado's 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary and had a margin of error of ±3.9%