1-minute voter guide: Democratic primary for Colorado governor

• Gov. Jared Polis is term-limited, creating the first open governor's race in eight years.

State of play: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser are competing for the party's nomination

• The two candidates are trading blows in what may be the most negative governor's campaign in recent history.
• On the issues, both want to reduce TABOR limitations to spend more money without removing the required vote on tax hikes. In other areas, Bennet and Weiser are wishy-washy on how they would address the state budget, labor and health care.

Zoom in: Given their common policy stances, the race revolves around experience and who is better equipped to fight President Trump.

Bennet, 61, touts his private-sector experience and time as Denver schools superintendent as a differentiator from Weiser, 58, who previously worked for the U.S. Justice Department and served as dean of the University of Colorado Law School.

• In terms of Trump, Bennet is under fire for supporting five Trump cabinet members and one ambassador, especially in comparison to Weiser, who has filed or joined more than 50 lawsuits against the administration.

The intrigue: Early in the campaign, Bennet struggled to explain why he would leave the U.S. Senate. He says he can better fight Trump and move the needle on policy at the state level.

• If elected, Bennet said he would appoint his successor but he's refused to identify a short list of candidates.