Polis, Stapleton win Colorado governor primary races
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis has won the Democratic primary and Walker Stapleton won the Republican primary in the race to replace Colorado Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Polis secured the nomination Tuesday against former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy, former state Sen. Mike Johnston and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.
Polis is a five-term congressman, former state board of education member and self-made millionaire and philanthropist.
He supports publicly-funded preschool and kindergarten, forgiveness of college debt, single-payer health care and promoting renewable energy.
State law prohibits Hickenlooper from serving a third consecutive term.
Tuesday’s primary was the first in which unaffiliated voters, the state’s largest voting bloc, could participate in one or the other of the major party primaries.
Colorado hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens, who served from 1999-2007.
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State Treasurer Walker Stapleton has won the Republican primary for Colorado governor.
Stapleton secured the nomination Tuesday against businessmen Victor Mitchell, Doug Robinson and Greg Lopez.
Stapleton led a field that collectively vowed to defend any attempt to tamper with Colorado’s constitutional Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, which leaves it to voters to approve tax hikes. He also aligned himself with President Donald Trump on immigration, health care and the federal tax plan.
State law prohibits Gov. John Hickenlooper from serving a third consecutive term.
Colorado hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens, who served from 1999-2007.
Tuesday’s primary was the first in which unaffiliated voters, the state’s largest voting bloc, could participate in one or the other of the major party primaries.
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