Denver Makes Primary History and Leads the Progressive Pack

D1 candidate Melat Kiros' supporters cheer as a second round of election results dropped in her favor, widening her lead over incumbent Diana DeGette. June 30, 2026.
Photo: McKenzie Lange/CPR News

Denver Democratic primary voters changed the direction of Colorado politics. Across the board they provided progressive muscle to local and statewide candidates. Denver’s 155,000 votes were 18% of the statewide vote.

• While John Hickenlooper won statewide (53%-47%), he lost the city he was mayor of to Julie Gonzales by 7 points, 54% to 47%.
• Michael Bennet, former Denver chief of staff and school superintendent, became the face of the corporate DC establishment and lost Denver to Phil Weiser 34% to 66% on his way to losing the election statewide by 13 points.
• Diane DeGette in her 7th Congressional election, did better than Bennet at 40% but lost to Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist, by 13 points.
• Denver’s Progressive voters gave Amanda Gonzales, the socialist-leaning (former DSA member) running for Secretary of State, a 67% margin, helping her to a 28 point win.

Millennials/Gen Z Getting into Politics

Nikita Valdez jumps while cheering after the first report of the election results show Democratic congressional candidate Melat Kiros in the lead during a primary election night watch party at The Broadway, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Rebecca Slezak)

Millennials, the demographic cohort starting in 1981 and now between 30 and 45 years old, are overtaking the dominant Baby Boom that is entering their 70’s and 80’s. When combined with younger Generation Z (15-29), they together have 40 percent of the population, more than a third of the vote known for their digital fluency and social activism.

The Baby Boomers came to political prominence in Colorado in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Gary Hart, Tim Wirth, Sam Brown, and Pat Schroeder, (anti-war, was elected at 32 years old in 1922) were all strongly supported by Baby Boom voters. In Denver, Federico Pena, the perceived Mamdani of the era, became mayor in 1983, beating the establishment candidates.

Polling in the 2026 Democratic primary reflected the new generation's power and preferences. They are more diverse than the over-45 generations, more liberal, more anti-establishment and they are voting for change. They preferred Phil Weiser and not Diane DeGette. They helped new candidates win legislative primaries and the competitive 8th congressional district insurgent candidate.

The 2026 Democratic Primary Turnout

A voter casts their ballot at a drop box in Denver on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in this file photo. (AP Photo/Chet Strange, File)

Although Colorado paper ballot returns have been slow, competitive races with significant spending tend to produce higher rates of turnout. Also, Donald Trump has increased turnout of Colorado Democrats anxious to send a message. For example, 35 percent of active voters turned out in the very competitive 2018 primary election but a lower 32 percent in 2022, with no statewide officeholders contested.

Will voter turnout above 35 percent help the embattled establishment or the progressive challengers?

READ ARTICLE:
Colorado’s primary turnout tops 10% as election officials warn it’s too late to mail ballots June 24, 2026

Colorado Election Gets Attention

Mr. Weiser, second from left, spoke with voters at Bluebird Café in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Photo: Cheney Orr for The New York Times

After years of mostly one party government and no primaries, Colorado is getting media attention as the nation’s anti-establishment, left-leading movement slams into the state’s Democratic primaries.

The New York Times weekend story on the governor’s race poses Michael Bennet as the big money establishment candidates whose campaign has faded from a 30 point advantage to a toss-up. Opponent Phil Weiser has positioned himself as a fighter in a year the party is hungry for combat with the Trump Administration and is highly anti-establishment.

NY TIMES ARTICLE:
Colorado’s Primary for Governor Pivots to Trump and Who Will Fight Him June 28, 2026

Colorado’s Embattled Democratic Establishment

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser participate in a forum for the Democratic candidates running for governor, Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Colorado State University's Lory Student Center in Fort Collins. (Photo: Tanya Fabian, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Colorado’s Democratic establishment officeholders are waging expensive defensive battles against a rising left wing.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator, Michael Bennet, who was seen as the strong favorite to win the gubernatorial primary, is spending millions in negative advertising to win what now appears a competitive race. Attorney General Phil Weiser benefiting from not being a long-time Washington officeholder, is riding the anti-establishment forces. Most observers believe Bennet will lose Denver, the party’s heartland, although they still believe he has an advantage.

Fifteen-term Congresswoman Diane DeGette who nearly lost the party nomination in earlier assemblies is in a difficult reelection with two opponents, one a young Black (Ethiopian) with no political experience but a “time for a change” progressive platform. It would be a major upset if she would lose.

Even John Hickenlooper, who has been a major Colorado political figure since becoming Denver’s mayor in 2003, is running extra hard against an underfunded and little-known opponent, Julie Gonzales. He’s primarily working to keep out of debates to avoid giving her statewide exposure. He will likely win, but the message is the same, the party establishment is on defense.

Should the SCFD Tax be Increased? No!

One of the most popular attributes of the Denver metro area’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) has been its frugality. In 1988, realizing it was in competition with municipal and county sales taxes, it set a low sales tax rate of one-tenth of a cent. Colorado also has a history of resistance to tax increases. The TABOR limits were being discussed and passed in 1992.

Over the last three decades, due to the economic and population growth in the 7-county region, the tax revenue for cultural institutions increased from $14 million annually to $85 million today.

During reauthorizations, many cultural organizations argued that since there are more organizations they need more money. The campaign group that supports SCFD regularly polls on the tax issue and has found voter resistance to increasing the SCFD tax rate. In December 2025, voters were asked whether not having a tax increase made them more likely to support the SCFD. Sixty-five percent said yes. It also asked whether there were higher priorities for the tax dollars in spite of being in favor of funding arts and culture. Nearly half of voters said there were other priorities.

Question: Thinking about a few other aspects of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities (SCFD) tax extension proposal.

For each one of the following, please indicate if that makes you much more likely to support it, somewhat more likely to support it, or makes no difference in your view one way or the other.

This will not increase taxes.

Question: For each of the following statements please indicate if you agree or disagree:

Arts, museums and theaters are nice to have, but there are higher priorities for our tax dollars to fund right now.

Bennet in Close Race?

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, left, and Attorney General Phil Weiser at a gubernatorial debate. (RJ Sangosti / Denver Post via Getty Images)

If the Morning Consult headline is correct, “Michael Bennet may not be the frontrunner for Colorado governor anymore,” it explains the $1 million loan Bennet made to his campaign and Bloomberg’s infusion of cash. The torrent of negative ads has many Democrats unhappy with the tone of the race. Do they put off the unaffected voter? Do they seem desperate? Bennet’s advantage is name identification and massive amounts of money for messaging, especially in the non-metro area. But still, the race is finally getting some drama.

READ:
Morning Digest: Michael Bennet may not be the frontrunner for Colorado governor anymore The Downballot, Jun 16, 2026