Colorado governor's race pits insider versus outsider
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Victor Marx, left. Phil Weiser, right. Photos: Hyoung Chang and Timothy Hurst/Denver Post via Getty Images
The battle lines in the Colorado governor's race are drawn now that the major parties have their nominees.
Why it matters: For the campaigns, there's no time to waste. Mail ballots go to voters in less than three months, and fundraising is full steam ahead.
State of play: Democratic candidate Phil Weiser, the current attorney general, is banking on his experience to get to work on Day 1.
- In the contest's opening salvos, Weiser said his Republican rival, Victor Marx, is the wrong pick because he never served in government, opposes abortion and supports gutting Medicaid.
What he's saying: "He has no preparation, and he has views … that are extreme and wrong for Colorado," Weiser said in a social media post after the race was called for Marx last Thursday.
The other side: Marx, who's from Colorado Springs, is embracing his outsider credentials. He is campaigning as a change agent who will end the state's one-party rule, cut government spending and "make Colorado great again."
- In his victory speech, Marx talked about the state's housing affordability crisis, blamed fentanyl for destroying families and criticized the state's bloated budget.
What he's saying: "Phil Weiser is a smart fella, but he represents the current system because he is part of it, and that current system has made Colorado more expensive, less safe and harder for regular families to trust government," Marx said.
By the numbers: Fundraising will prove key to reaching voters. Both candidates enter the general election with little campaign cash in the bank.
- Weiser reported about $180,000 at the end of June and Marx had $210,000.
The big picture: Democrats hold a clear voter advantage in Colorado, where they've controlled the governor's office for the last 24 years, putting Marx in a hole to start the race.
- Questions about his past are overshadowing his campaign, and even his two former Republican rivals in the primary said they won't support him.
What we're watching: Marx needs a strong campaign to boost his party. If he struggles at the top of the GOP ticket, it could hurt turnout and strain support for other Republican campaigns.