Trump looms large in Colorado's Democratic governor primary
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Michael Bennet, center-right, hosts a gubernatorial campaign event at The Bookworm bookstore in Edwards. Photo: John Frank/Axios
Michael Bennet and Phil Weiser want to talk about why they're running for Colorado governor, but instead, the conversation keeps drifting back to the elephant in the room.
Why it matters: Like it or not, President Trump is dominating the early phase of the primary contest. The central question for voters: how the candidates would confront Trump and protect Colorado.
State of play: The two Democratic heavy-hitters were eager to share their track records on this question at recent campaign events.
- At a Denver church, Weiser, the term-limited attorney general, pointed to the 50-plus lawsuits he filed or joined against the Trump administration and the $900 million those lawsuits returned to the state.
- At a local bookstore in Edwards, Bennet, the three-term U.S. senator, talked about delaying an appropriations bill and Trump's nominations to slow the GOP agenda in Washington, D.C.
Yes, but: They would rather talk about their campaigns.
- Weiser focused on the story of his family surviving the Holocaust and his experience as a clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
- Bennet said his top issue is the state's affordability crisis, specifically the need to bring down the costs of housing and health care.
What they're saying: "The 'fight Trump' part is important … but it's only half the battle," Bennet said at the bookstore last week. The most important part of the job, he added, "is to make sure we are providing a compelling vision of the future."
The intrigue: Trump is also a differentiator in the race. Bennet faces questions about why he voted to approve a few of the president's cabinet picks, even though he opposed the other 90%.
- One, which he now calls a mistake, was his support in February 2025 for Colorado's Chris Wright for energy secretary. In an interview with Axios, Bennet defended his other votes, saying Colorado may need help from those agencies in the future, and he has an inside line.
Bennet also downplays Weiser's lawsuits, noting Colorado is only leading a handful and the rest are handled by other states.
- "My experience being [Denver's] superintendent of schools is probably a whole lot more valuable than one filing lawsuits against Trump," he told the bookstore crowd.
The bottom line: Trump may prove a litmus test for voters, and if so, the most resistant candidate may hold an advantage.