Phil Weiser, Colorado's attorney general, won the Democratic primary for governor against U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, according to media projections. The outcome follows a campaign in which Weiser outpaced Bennet in fundraising and spending and framed the contest around defense of state interests against federal actions taken by President Donald Trump.
At the center of the race were recent disputes between Colorado and the federal government. The president froze federal funds to the state and vetoed a major drinking water project in Colorado. Weiser made those clashes a core part of his case to voters, saying his work in court to challenge the funding freeze and to oppose the president's attempt to end birthright citizenship showed he would vigorously defend Colorado’s interests as governor.
Bennet, a sitting U.S. senator, campaigned in the primary but was unable to overcome Weiser’s financial advantage. Despite his loss in the gubernatorial contest, Bennet will remain in the Senate because his seat is not up for reelection until 2028.
What the result means
Weiser’s victory in the Democratic primary positions him as the presumptive favorite for the November general election. Observers note that the state has trended Democratic in recent elections, and a recent presidential race delivered a double-digit margin for the Democratic nominee, which the campaign cited when assessing general election prospects.
The campaign’s focus on federal-state disputes - including the frozen funds and the vetoed water project - highlighted the influence of litigation and federal policy actions on state political dynamics. Weiser emphasized his record of suing the administration as evidence of his preparedness to protect Colorado’s budgetary and infrastructure priorities.
Looking ahead
Weiser is expected to be elected governor in November according to projections referenced during the campaign. The result reshuffles the Democratic field for statewide leadership while leaving the party’s Senate representation intact through 2028.