{"id":2621312,"date":"2026-06-30T07:26:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T11:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bennet-faces-surprise-toss-up-primary-for-colorado-governor\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T07:28:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T11:28:15","slug":"bennet-faces-surprise-toss-up-primary-for-colorado-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bennet-faces-surprise-toss-up-primary-for-colorado-governor\/","title":{"rendered":"Bennet faces surprise &#8216;toss-up&#8217; primary for Colorado governor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbennet-faces-surprise-toss-up-primary-for-colorado-governor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2621312&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Michael Bennet, initially considered a strong contender for Colorado\u2019s Democratic primary for governor, faces a tight race against Attorney General Phil weiser as the election approaches. The seat is securely in Democratic hands, but the primary reflects a broader intra-party contest between Bennet, seen as an establishment figure, and Weiser, positioning himself as an outsider or progressive challenger. Recent polls show Bennet&#8217;s lead has significantly narrowed,dropping from nearly 30 points to a slight deficit,with some attributing this shift to voters&#8217; desire for change and increased support for progressive candidates following recent wins in New york and Washington,D.C. <\/p>\n<p>Bennet\u2019s attendance record in the Senate has come under scrutiny, with him missing many votes, which weiser and critics cite as a sign of insufficient commitment. The two candidates also clash over their opposition to Trump, with Weiser highlighting his numerous lawsuits against the administration, while Bennet\u2019s record appears more bipartisan or less confrontational. The campaign atmosphere emphasizes the broader theme of insurgent,progressive energy challenging the conventional Democratic establishment.Meanwhile, in Colorado\u2019s congressional races, incumbents like rep. Diana degette also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/don-jr-issues-warning-to-gop-reps-unsupportive-of-president-trump\/\" title=\"Don Jr. issues warning to GOP reps. unsupportive of President ...\">face primary challenges<\/a> from younger, more progressive contenders. the race exemplifies the growing influence of progressive movements within the Democratic Party and the potential shift away from established leadership.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/sen-michael-bennet\/\">Michael Bennet<\/a> (D-CO) was thought to be a shoo-in for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\">Colorado<\/a>\u2019s Democratic primary for governor. But on the eve of the election, the well-known senator and 2020 presidential candidate found himself in a \u201ctoss-up\u201d race against Colorado Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4628089\/races-to-watch-colorado-primary\/\">Phil Weiser<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the seat solidly in the Democrats\u2019 court, the real fight is the Tuesday primary. It presents the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >latest high-profile showdown<\/a> in the party between a more establishment candidate, Bennet, and someone who\u2019s positioned himself as the insurgent outsider, Weiser.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4628448\/acton-fundraising-matches-ramaswamy-democrats-ohio-polling\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Acton\u2019s fundraising matches Ramaswamy as Democrats see hope in Ohio polling<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4624093\/who-is-victor-marx-colorado-republican-governor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Who is Victor Marx, the Colorado GOP gubernatorial candidate who said he killed someone?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4626762\/recalled-avenal-california-city-council-members-refuse-leave-legal-battle\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Recalled California city council members dig in as legal battle escalates<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also comes on the heels of Democratic socialist wins in New York and Washington, D.C., breathing new fire into underdog campaigns challenging what they see as complacent, status quo Democrats serving in the nation\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think this right now is a toss-up,\u201d said Doug Friednash, a Colorado Democratic strategist and former chief of staff to Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) when he was governor. \u201cI think the most important factor in this race is, who\u2019s standing up to Trump more? Who\u2019s fighting Trump? \u2026 Voters are super angry, generally, and they want to take it out on someone, and they want to see change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What was once a sizable lead of nearly 30 points just months ago for Bennet has all but dwindled. In one of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/polls\/colorado-governor-election-polls-2026.html?eafs_enabled=false\">most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-gop-sen-david-perdue-in-runoff-battle-with-democrat-jon-ossoff\/\" title=\"Ga. GOP Sen. David Perdue in runoff battle with Democrat Jon Ossoff\">recent polls<\/a><\/a>, Bennet trailed Weiser by 9 points.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As his lead has diminished, so too has Bennet\u2019s attendance record in Washington. In June, Bennet participated in just two of 62 Senate roll call votes, according to a <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> analysis.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weiser has taken notice of his opponent\u2019s absences.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo. 1: Do your day job,\u201d Weiser said in a recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=1497015311574923\">campaign video<\/a>. \u201cHe committed to doing it. We all need to do it. Missing votes is a bad look.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two men accuse one another of insufficiently combating President Donald Trump, whether it be Bennet crossing the aisle on occasion to support Republican nominees or what the senator says is an inadequate number of legal challenges mounted by Weiser against the administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A source close to the Weiser campaign noted he\u2019s sued the Trump administration dozens of times. They referred to Bennet as a \u201ccreature of D.C.\u201d with more than two years left on his second term. They also noted that Bennet has ducked on who he\u2019d appoint as his successor if elected governor and forced to vacate his Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe hasn\u2019t shown the fight that\u2019s needed against the second Trump administration when it mattered, and still hasn\u2019t,\u201d the source said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FILE \u2013 Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., announces his plan to run for Colorado\u2019s governorship in the 2026 election at an event outside the Museum of Nature and Science, April 11, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/06\/localimages\/AP26177768951227.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) announces his plan to run for Colorado\u2019s governorship in the 2026 election at an event outside the Museum of Nature and Science, April 11, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Bennet campaign declined to comment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the Denver-area 1st Congressional District, 68-year-old Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) is also feeling the pressure in a Tuesday primary against Melat Kiros, a socialist nearly three decades younger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4628089\/races-to-watch-colorado-primary\/\">RACES TO WATCH IN COLORADO\u2019S 2026 PRIMARY ELECTIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But for Bennet, even with more time of late spent in Colorado and dozens of missed Senate votes in Washington, the perception of being an insider at a time when progressive challengers are having a moment with Democratic voters could spell doom for his campaign. The source close to the Weiser campaign added that Weiser \u201cdoesn\u2019t call himself a progressive\u201d but has the ability to ride the coattails of the \u201cenergy and enthusiasm for progressives.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWeiser is kind of viewed probably a little less as the establishment candidate. I think that may be a byproduct of not being in the Senate right now,\u201d Friednash said. \u201cI think having seen what happened in New York has energized the democratic socialists and younger voters in a way we haven\u2019t seen for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bennet\u2019s lead shrinks ahead of Colorado primary showdown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2621313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26177768951227.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[9240,32770,40275,33184,81947],"class_list":["post-2621312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bennet","tag-colorado-politics","tag-gubernatorial-race","tag-primary-election","tag-toss-up-election"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26177768951227.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2621312"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2621316,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621312\/revisions\/2621316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2621312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2621312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2621312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}