2018 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2018 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic governor John Hickenlooper was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term. The primary election was held on June 26.^[1]

2018 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 2014 November 6, 2018 2022 →

Nominee Jared Polis Walker Stapleton Party Democratic Republican Running mate Dianne Primavera Lang Sias Popular vote 1,348,888 1,080,801 Percentage 53.42% 42.80%

County results Congressional district results State house district results Precinct results Polis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Stapleton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      No votes

Governor before election John Hickenlooper Democratic Elected Governor Jared Polis Democratic

The major party nominees were Democratic U.S. Representative Jared Polis and Republican State Treasurer Walker Stapleton. The general election took place on November 6, 2018, with Polis winning by 268,000 votes.^[2][3] This was the first Colorado gubernatorial election in which both major party candidates received over one million votes.

Polis's victory marked the fourth straight election in which Colorado elected a Democratic governor and the first time in American electoral history that an openly gay politician was elected governor of a state.

Democratic primary

With Hickenlooper ineligible to run for a third term in office, multiple Democratic politicians vied for the party's nomination for governor. Prior to his resignation in 2015, former lieutenant governor Joseph Garcia was seen as a probable candidate for governor in 2018.^[4]

Candidates

Nominated

• Jared Polis, U.S. Representative^[5][6]

Eliminated in the primary

• Mike Johnston, former state senator^[7]
• Cary Kennedy, former Colorado State Treasurer and former CFO and Deputy Mayor of Denver^[8][9][10]
• Donna Lynne, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado^[11]

Eliminated at the convention

• Erik Underwood, former congressional aide, Republican candidate for GA-10 in 2007 and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016

Withdrawn

• Noel Ginsburg, businessman^[12]
• Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative (running for reelection)^[13]

Declined

• Joseph Garcia, former lieutenant governor^[4]
• Steve Lebsock, State Representative (was running for State Treasurer before switching to the Republican Party, thus disqualifying him from the Democratic Primary)^{[14][15][16][17]}
• Michael Merrifield, State Senator^[18][19][20]
• Joe Neguse, former executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and nominee for secretary of state in 2014 (running for CO-02)^[21][22]
• Joe Salazar, State Representative (running for Attorney General)^[23]
• Ken Salazar, former U.S. senator and former United States Secretary of the Interior^[24]

Caucus results

On March 6, 2018, Democrats of precincts across Colorado met and voted how many delegates each candidate who was caucusing on the ballot would get. As of March 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m., 96.83% of precincts had reported and added up to the below results.^[25]

• Cary Kennedy (11,700; 49.2%)
• Jared Polis (7,784; 32.7%)
• Mike Johnston (2,086; 8.8%)
• Noel Ginsburg (433; 1.8%), dropped out of race
• Erik Underwood (100; 0.4%)
• Uncommitted (1,668; 7%)

Endorsements

Jared Polis

Organizations

• Colorado Professional Firefighters (CPFF)
• Humane Society
• IBEW Colorado – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• National Cannabis Industry Association
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
• Pipefitters Local 208
• Sierra Club
• Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
• Victory Fund

Federal officials

• Luis Gutiérrez, United States Representative
• John Lewis, United States Representative^[26]
• Betsy Markey, former United States Representative
• Barack Obama, former United States President
• Pat Schroeder, former United States Representative^[27]

State Senators

• Polly Baca, former
• Steve Fenberg
• Tom Glass, former, former Mayor of Crested Butte
• Rob Hernandez, former
• John Kefalas
• Claire Levy, former
• Chris Romer, former
• Sue Windels, former

State Representatives

• Jeni Ardnt
• Adrienne Benavidez
• Jeff Bridges
• Ed Casso
• Mike Foote
• Matt Gray
• Leslie Herod
• Edie Hooton
• Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, former Speaker
• Joe Miklosi
• Angie Paccione
• Cherylin Peniston
• Dianne Primavera
• Debbie Stafford
• Val Vigil, former, also member of Thornton City Council
• Roger Wilson

County Commissioners

• Jorge Amaya, former, Alamosa County
• Hillary Cooper, San Miguel County Commissioner
• Thomas Davidson, Summit County
• Cindy Domenico, Boulder County
• Deb Gardner, Boulder County
• Dan Gibbs, Summit County
• Eva Henry, Adams County
• Elise Jones, Boulder County
• Tim Mauck, Clear Creek
• Buffie McFadyen, former, Pueblo County
• Garrison Ortiz, Pueblo County
• Sal Pace, Pueblo County
• Karn Stiegelmeier, Summit County
• Will Toor, former, Boulder County

Mayors

• Christine Berg, Lafayette
• Dennis Coombs, former, Longmont
• Cecil Gutierrez, Loveland
• Suzanne Jones, Boulder
• Bob Muckle, Louisville
• Sean Murphy, Telluride
• Susan Osborne, former, Boulder
• Gustavo Reynar, pro tem, Lafayette
• Tiffany A. Snyder, former, Ward
• Dr. John Warner, former, Breckenridge
• Jacque Whitsitt, Basalt

City Councilors

• Yolanda Avila, Colorado Springs
• Rich Ball, Loveland
• Aaron Brockett, Boulder
• Dean Brookie, Durango
• Ed Brown, Pueblo
• Maria De Cambra, Westminster
• Mack Goodman, Thornton
• Leah Johnson, Loveland
• Kevin Kreeger, Broomfield
• Paul Lopez, Denver
• Ramona Martinez, former, Denver
• Lisa Morzel, Boulder
• Francoise Poinsatte, former, Boulder
• Andy Schultheiss, former, Boulder
• Andrew Shoemaker, Boulder
• Richard Skorman, Colorado Springs
• Kristin Stephen, Fort Collins
• Sam Weaver, Boulder

Others

• Anthony Aragon, LGBTQ leader
• Beverly Breakstone, Summit County Assessor
• Jeff Chostner, Pueblo County District Attorney, former County Commissioner, former State Representative
• Nancy Cronk, Director of the Cunningham Fire Protection District's Board of Directors
• Stan Garnnet, Boulder County District Attorney
• Bob Hullinghorst, former Boulder County Treasurer
• Dave Levy, Thompson School Board member
• Denise Montague, Thompson School Board member
• Rick Palacio, former Colorado Democratic Party Chairman
• Beverly Benavidez Ryken, former Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party
• Angelika Schroeder, Chairwoman of the State Board of Education
• Jeri Shepherd, DNC member
• John Tayer, former RTD Board member
• Nancy Tellez, former Poudre School Board member

Mike Johnston

Federal officials

• Gary Hart, former U.S. Senator for Colorado^[28]

State officials

• Irene Aguilar, State Senator
• Terrance Carroll, former Speaker of the House of Representatives
• James Coleman, State Representative
• Kerry Donovan, State Senator
• Rhonda Fields, State Senator
• Joyce Foster, former State Senator
• Angela Giron, former State Senator
• Millie Hamner, State Representative
• Richard Lamm, former Governor^[29]
• John Morse, former State Senate President
• Christine Scanlan, former State Representative
• Wilma Webb, former State Representative^[30]

Local officials

• Gabrielle Aragon, former San Luis Council member
• Albus Brooks, Denver City Council President
• Lisa Flores, Denver Public School Board of Education member
• Tracy Johnson, Academy District 20 Board of Education member
• Jeanne McQueeney, Eagle County Commissioner^[31]
• Theresa Peña, formerDenver Public Schools Board of Education member^[32]
• Christina Rinderle, former Durango Mayor
• Wellington Webb, former Mayor of Denver^[30]

Organizations

• Students for Education Reform^[33]

Newspapers

• The Daily Sentinel^[34]

Individuals

• Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn
• Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook

Cary Kennedy

Federal officials

• Ken Salazar, former U.S. Senator and United States Secretary of the Interior^[27]

State officials

• Bernie Buescher, former Secretary of State of Colorado^[35]
• Mike Callihan, former Lieutenant Governor^[35]
• Gail Schoettler, former Lieutenant Governor and former State Treasurer^[35]

State legislators

• Betty Boyd, former state senator^[35]
• Joan Fitz-Gerald, former President of the Colorado Senate^[35]
• Evie Hudak, former state senator^[35]
• Daniel Kagan, State Senator^[35]
• Chris Kennedy, State Representative^[35]
• Pete Lee, State Representative^[35]
• Susan Lontine, State Representative^[35]
• Alice Madden, former Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives^[35]
• Rosemary Marshall, former State Representative^[35]
• Michael Merrifield, State Senator^[35]
• Jeanne Nicholson, former State Senator^[35]
• Pat Pascoe, former State Senator^[35]
• Tom Plant, former State Representative and former Director of the Governor’s Energy Office^[35]
• Peggy Reeves, former State Senator^[35]
• Joe Rice, former State Representative and former Mayor of Glendale^[35]
• Chris Romer, former State Senator^[35]
• Dorothy Rupert, former State Senator^[35]
• Brandon Shaffer, former President of the Colorado Senate^[35]
• Gloria Tanner, former State Senator^[35]
• Suzanne Williams, former State Senator^[35]
• Dave Young, State Representative^[35]

Local officials

• Doug Linkhart, Denver City Councilman and former State Senator^[35]
• Beth McCann, Denver District Attorney and former State Representative^[35]

Labor unions

• American Federation of Teachers-Colorado^[36]
• Colorado Education Association^[37]
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 455^[38]
• United Association Local 58, Plumbers & Pipefitters^[39]
• United Steelworkers District 12^[40]

Organizations

• EMILY's List^[41]

Donna Lynne

State legislators

• Janet Buckner, State Representative
• Jean Dubofsky, former state Supreme Court Justice
• JoAnn Ginal, State Representative
• Lucia Guzman, State Senator

Local officials

• Leanna Clark, vice chancellor for the University of Colorado Denver
• Kathy Maloney Green, Gov. John Hickenlooper’s former spokeswoman
• Jacque Montgomery, Gov. John Hickenlooper’s spokeswoman
• Marguerite Salazar, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies executive director
• Tamra Ward, Denver Zoo chief external relations officer

Ed Perlmutter (withdrawn)

• Pipefitters Local 208^[42]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Johnston	Cary Kennedy	Donna Lynne	Jared Polis	Other	Undecided
Strategies 360[43]	May 29 – June 6, 2018	387	± 5.0%	12%	23%	2%	34%	–	29%
Magellan Strategies (R)[44]	May 30–31, 2018	503	± 4.4%	9%	18%	3%	31%	–	39%
TargetPoint/GQR[45]	March 2018	–	–	–	18%	–	18%	12%	52%
Magellan Strategies (R)[46]	March 20–23, 2018	410	± 4.8%	8%	23%	5%	27%	1%	36%
University of Colorado Boulder[47]	November 9–15, 2017	357	± 3.5%	4%	6%	4%	24%	2%[48]	58%

Results

Results by county:

  Polis

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Kennedy

•   30–40%
•   40–50%

  Johnston

•   30–40%
•   40–50%

Democratic primary results^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jared Polis	282,725	44.46
	Democratic	Cary Kennedy	157,098	24.71
	Democratic	Mike Johnston	149,717	23.55
	Democratic	Donna Lynne	46,316	7.28
Total votes			635,856	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominated

• Walker Stapleton, Colorado State Treasurer^[50]

Eliminated in the primary

• Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker^[51]
• Victor Mitchell, former state representative^[52]
• Doug Robinson, businessman^[53]

Eliminated at the convention

• Steve Barlock, former Trump campaigner, Colorado Republican National Alternate Delegate and Elector^[54]
• Cynthia Coffman, Colorado Attorney General^[54]
• Barry Farah, businessman^[54]
• Lew Gaiter, Larimer County Commissioner^[54]

Withdrawn

• George Brauchler, District Attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District (running for attorney general)^[55][56][57]
• Jim Rundberg, businessman^[58]
• JoAnne Silva, retired banker^[59]
• Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative, candidate for governor in 2014, Constitution Party nominee for governor in 2010, and candidate for President of the United States in 2008^[60][61]

Declined

• John Elway, general manager of the Denver Broncos and retired NFL player^[62][63]
• Owen Hill, state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for CO-05)^[64][65]
• Steve House, Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party and candidate for governor in 2014^[66][67]
• Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita Inc.^[68]
• Brian Watson, businessman and candidate for the State House in 2012 (running for State Treasurer)^[69][70]

Caucus results

Based on information shared by some key counties, as well as a recent survey, the following are believed to be results of the Republican Caucus from key counties.^[71]

Pueblo County

• Steve Barlock – 3.14%
• Cynthia Coffman – 7.55%
• Greg Lopez – 16.35%
• Victor Mitchell – 23.90%
• Doug Robinson – 3.15%
• Walker Stapleton – 45.91%

Douglas County

• Steve Barlock – 32.5%
• Cynthia Coffman – 4.6%
• Lew Gaiter III – 2.2%
• Greg Lopez – 18.8%
• Victor Mitchell – 7.7%
• Doug Robinson – 2.2%
• Walker Stapleton – 23.2%
• Tom Tancredo (dropped out of the race) – 1.6%
• Uncommitted – 7.2%

Endorsements

George Brauchler (withdrawn)

Individuals

• Ted Nugent, musician and gun rights activist^[72]

Tom Tancredo (withdrawn)

Political Commentators

• Michelle Malkin, conservative commentator^[73]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Cynthia Coffman	Greg Lopez	Victor Mitchell	Doug Robinson	Walker Stapleton	Other	Undecided
Magellan Strategies (R)[74]	June 6–7, 2018	593	± 4.0%	–	10%	23%	4%	36%	–	27%
TargetPoint/GQR[45]	March 2018	–	–	7%	–	–	–	15%	16%	62%
Magellan Strategies (R)[75]	February 26–27, 2018	647	± 3.9%	13%	–	5%	8%	26%	9%	39%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	George Brauchler	Cynthia Coffman	Victor Mitchell	Doug Robinson	Walker Stapleton	Tom Tancredo	Undecided
University of Colorado Boulder[47]	November 9–15, 2017	250	± 3.5%	4%	6%	1%	1%	8%	25%	54%
Braynard Group (R)[76]	September 26–28, 2017	400	± 3.2%	7%	6%	1%	0.3%	8.5%	22%	54%

Hypothetical polling

Results

Results by county:

  Stapleton

•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Mitchell

•   40–50%

Republican primary results^[49]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walker Stapleton	239,415	47.66
	Republican	Victor Mitchell	151,365	30.13
	Republican	Greg Lopez	66,330	13.20
	Republican	Doug Robinson	45,245	9.01
Total votes			502,355	100.0

Third party and independent candidates

Candidates

Declared

• Paul Noel Fiorino (Independent), perennial candidate^[77]
• Marcus Giavanni (Independent), radio host^[78]
• Bill Hammons (Unity Party of America), insurance agent, chairman and founder of the Unity Party of America, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and 2016^[79]
• Scott Helker (Libertarian)^[80][81]

General election

Debates

Dates	Location	Polis	Stapleton	Link
October 6, 2018	Grand Junction, Colorado	Participant	Participant	Full debate - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[82]	Lean D	October 26, 2018
The Washington Post[83]	Lean D	November 5, 2018
FiveThirtyEight[84]	Likely D	November 5, 2018
Rothenberg Political Report[85]	Lean D	November 1, 2018
Sabato's Crystal Ball[86]	Lean D	November 5, 2018
RealClearPolitics[87]	Lean D	November 4, 2018
Daily Kos[88]	Lean D	November 5, 2018
Fox News[89][a]	Lean D	November 5, 2018
Politico[90]	Lean D	November 5, 2018
Governing[91]	Lean D	November 5, 2018

Notes

1. The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races.

Endorsements

Jared Polis (D)

Organizations

• Colorado Professional Firefighters (CPFF)
• Humane Society
• IBEW Colorado, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• National Cannabis Industry Association
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)
• Pipefitters Local 208
• Sierra Club
• Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters
• Victory Fund

Federal officials

• Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator (D-CO)^[92]
• Diana DeGette, U.S. Representative (CO-1)^[93]
• John Lewis, U.S. Representative (GA-5)^[26]
• Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States^[94]
• Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative (CO-7)^[95]
• Ken Salazar, former United States Secretary of the Interior and U.S. Senator (D-CO)^[96]
• Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator (I-VT)^[97]
• Pat Schroeder, former U.S. Representative (CO-1)^[27]

State officials

• John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado^[98]
• Donna Lynne, Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and former candidate^[99]

State Senators

• Polly Baca, former
• Steve Fenberg
• Tom Glass, former, former Mayor of Crested Butte
• Rob Hernandez, former
• Mike Johnston, former^[100]
• John Kefalas
• Claire Levy, former
• Chris Romer, former
• Sue Windels, former

State Representatives

• Jeni Ardnt
• Adrienne Benavidez
• Jeff Bridges
• Ed Casso
• Crisanta Duran, speaker^[101]
• Mike Foote
• Alec Garnett^[102]
• Matt Gray
• Leslie Herod
• Edie Hooton
• Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, former Speaker
• Joe Miklosi
• Angie Paccione
• Cherylin Peniston
• Dianne Primavera
• Jonathan Singer^[103]
• Debbie Stafford
• Val Vigil, former, also member of Thornton City Council
• Roger Wilson

County Commissioners

• Jorge Amaya, former, Alamosa County
• Hillary Cooper, San Miguel County Commissioner
• Thomas Davidson, Summit County
• Cindy Domenico, Boulder County
• Deb Gardner, Boulder County
• Dan Gibbs, Summit County
• Eva Henry, Adams County
• Elise Jones, Boulder County
• Tim Mauck, Clear Creek
• Buffie McFadyen, former, Pueblo County
• Garrison Ortiz, Pueblo County
• Sal Pace, Pueblo County
• Karn Stiegelmeier, Summit County
• Will Toor, former, Boulder County

Mayors

• Michael Hancock, Denver^[104]
• Suzanne Jones, Boulder
• Jacque Whitsitt, Basalt
• Christine Berg, Lafayette
• Gustavo Reynar, pro tem, Lafayette
• Cecil Gutierrez, Loveland
• Dennis Coombs, former, Longmont
• Bob Muckle, Louisville
• Sean Murphy, Telluride
• Susan Osborne, former, Boulder
• Dr. John Warner, former, Breckenridge
• Tiffany A. Snyder, former, Ward

City Councilors

• Yolanda Avila, Colorado Springs
• Rich Ball, Loveland
• Aaron Brockett, Boulder
• Dean Brookie, Durango
• Ed Brown, Pueblo
• Maria De Cambra, Westminster
• Mack Goodman, Thornton
• Leah Johnson, Loveland
• Kevin Kreeger, Broomfield
• Paul Lopez, Denver
• Ramona Martinez, former, Denver
• Lisa Morzel, Boulder
• Francoise Poinsatte, former, Boulder
• Andy Schultheiss, former, Boulder
• Andrew Shoemaker, Boulder
• Richard Skorman, Colorado Springs
• Kristin Stephen, Fort Collins
• Sam Weaver, Boulder

Others

• Anthony Aragon, LGBTQ leader
• Beverly Breakstone, Summit County Assessor
• Jeff Chostner, Pueblo County District Attorney, former County Commissioner, former State Representative
• Nancy Cronk, Director on the Cunningham Fire Protection District's Board of Directors
• Stan Garnnet, Boulder County District Attorney
• Bob Hullinghorst, former Boulder County Treasurer
• Cary Kennedy, former Colorado state treasurer and candidate^[105]
• Dave Levy, Thompson School Board member
• Denise Montague, Thompson School Board member
• Willie Nelson, singer and activist^[106]
• Rick Palacio, former Colorado Democratic Party Chairman
• Beverly Benavidez Ryken, former Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party
• Angelika Schroeder, Chairwoman of the State Board of Education
• Jeri Shepherd, DNC member
• John Tayer, former RTD Board member
• Nancy Tellez, former Poudre School Board member
• Phil Weiser, Dean of the University of Colorado Law School and candidate for Attorney General^[107]

Walker Stapleton (R)

Presidents of the United States

• George H. W. Bush, 41st President of The United States^[108]
• George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States^[109]
• Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States^[110]

Vice Presidents of the United States

• Mike Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States^[111]

Federal officials

• Ken Buck, U.S. Representative (CO-4)^[112]
• Mike Coffman, U.S. Representative (CO-6)^[113]
• Cory Gardner, U.S. Senator (R-CO)^[114]
• Doug Lamborn, U.S. Representative (CO-5)^[115]
• Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative (CO-6)^[116]
• Scott Tipton, U.S. Representative (CO-3)^[117]

State officials

• Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida^[118]

State Senators

• Kevin Grantham, Senate President^[119]

State Representatives

• Victor Mitchell, former State Representative (CO-45)^[120]
• Patrick Neville, House Minority Leader^[119]
• Lang Sias, State Representative (CO-27) and Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Colorado

Local officials

• Darius Allen, Alamosa County Commissioner^[121]
• Mark Arndt, Morgan County Commissioner^[121]
• Spike Ausmus, Baca County Commissioner^[121]
• Jeff Baker, Arapahoe County Commissioner^[121]
• Jim Baldwin, Otero County Commissioner^[121]
• Ray Beck, Moffat County Commissioner^[121]
• Jeff Benson, Jackson County Commissioner^[121]
• Brad Blake, La Plata County Commissioner^[121]
• Shawn Bolton, Rio Blanco County Commissioner^[121]
• Rick Butler, Baca County Commissioner^[121]
• Wendy Buxton-Andrade, Prowers County Commissioner^[121]
• Phil Chamberland, Gunnison County Commissioner^[121]
• Rich Cimino, Grand County Commissioner^[121]
• Don Cook, Moffat County Commissioner^[121]
• Juie Cozad, Weld County Commissioner^[121]
• Glenn Davis, Montrose County Commissioner^[121]
• Pete Dawson, Baca County Commissioner^[121]
• Marc Dettenrieder, Teller County Commissioner^[121]
• Cindy Dozier, Hinsdale County Commissioner^[121]
• Keenan Ertel, Montezuma County Commissioner^[121]
• Tina Francone, Jefferson County Commissioner^[121]
• Mike Freeman, Weld County Commissioner^[121]
• Gene Glover, Rio Grande County Commissioner^[121]
• Frank Grant, Crowley County Commissioner^[121]
• Tom Grasmick, Prowers County Commissioner^[121]
• Cari Hermacinski, Routt County Commissioner^[121]
• Tom Jankovsky, Garfield County Commissioner^[121]
• Barbara Kirkmeyer, Weld County Commissioner^[121]
• Lea Ann Laybourn, Washington County Commissioner^[121]
• Merit Linke, Grand County Commissioner^[121]
• John Martin, Garfield County Commissioner^[121]
• Dwayne McFall, Fremont County Commissioner^[121]
• Cindy McLoud, Kiowa County Commissioner^[121]
• Frank Moe, Moffat County Commissioner^[121]
• Steve Moreno, Weld County Commissioner^[121]
• Roger Partridge, Douglas County Commissioner^[121]
• Tim Payne, Fremont County Commissioner^[121]
• Byron Pelton, Logan County Commissioner^[121]
• Rod Pelton, Cheyenne County Commissioner^[121]
• Dave Potts, Chaffee County Commissioner^[121]
• Rose Pugliese, Mesa County Commissioner^[121]
• Roger Rash, Montrose County Commissioner^[121]
• Jeff Rector, Rio Blanco County Commissioner^[121]
• Mike Samson, Garfield County Commissioner^[121]
• Nancy Sharpe, Arapahoe County Commissioner^[121]
• Karla Shriver, Rio Grande County Commissioner^[121]
• Norm Steen, Teller County Commissioner^[121]
• Larry Don Suckla, Montezuma County Commissioner^[121]
• Don Suppes, Delta County Commissioner^[121]
• Libby Szabo, Jefferson County Commissioner^[121]
• Lora Thomas, Douglas County Commissioner^[121]
• Stan VanderWerf, El Paso County Commissioner^[121]
• Mark Waller, El Paso County Commissioner^[121]
• Patrick Ward, Cheyenne County Commissioner^[121]
• Ramona Weber, Mineral County Commissioner^[121]
• Stan Whinnery, Hinsdale County Commissioner^[121]
• Si Woodruff, Rio Blanco County Commissioner^[121]

Mayors

• Greg Lopez, former Mayor of Parker^[122]
• John Suthers, Mayor of Colorado Springs

District attorneys

• Brett Barkey (14th Judicial District)^[123]
• Jim Bullock (16th Judicial District)^[123]
• Jeff Cheney (9th Judicial District)^[123]
• Molly Chilson (11th Judicial District)^[123]
• Brittny Lewton (13th Judicial District)^[123]
• Dan May (4th Judicial District)^[123]
• Cliff Riedel (8th Judicial District)^[123]
• Michael J. Rourke (19th Judicial District)^[123]
• Dan Rubinstein (21st Judicial District)^[123]
• Josh Vogel (15th Judicial District)^[123]
• Pete Weir (1st Judicial District)^[123]

Sheriffs

• Ronald Bruce, Hinsdale County^[123]
• Chad Day, Yuma County^[123]
• Bill Elder, El Paso County^[123]
• Dave Encinas, Bent County^[123]
• Shayne Heap, Elbert County^[123]
• KC Hume, Moffat County^[123]
• John "Smokey" Kurtz, Crowley County^[123]
• Matt Lewis, Mesa County^[123]
• Fred McKee, Delta County^[123]
• Steve Reams, Weld County^[123]
• Brett Schroetlin, Grand County^[123]
• Jeff Shrader, Jefferson County^[123]
• Justin Smith, Larimer County^[123]
• Jon Stivers, Washington County^[123]
• David Walcher, Arapahoe County^[123]
• Dan Warwick, Sagauche County^[123]
• Garrett Wiggins, Routt County^[123]
• Sam Zordel, Prowers County^[123]

Others

• Doug Robinson, businessman^[124]
• Nick Rogers, president of the Denver Police Protective Association^[123]

Organizations

• Associated Builders and Contractors^[125]
• Americans for Prosperity-Colorado^[126]
• Colorado Auto Dealers Association^[127]
• Colorado Farm Bureau^[128]
• National Federation of Independent Business^[129]

Newspapers

• Colorado Springs Gazette^[130]
• Durango Herald^[131]
• Grand Junction Daily Sentinel^[132]
• The Greeley Tribune^[133]
• Pueblo Chieftain^[134]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Walker Stapleton (R)	Scott Helker (L)	Other	Undecided
Magellan Strategies[135]	October 29–30, 2018	500	± 4.4%	45%	40%	3%	1%[136]	11%
Keating Research/OnSight Public Affairs/Martin Campaigns[137]	October 25–30, 2018	517	± 4.3%	50%	42%	4%	1%[136]	4%
University of Colorado/YouGov[138]	October 12–17, 2018	800	± 3.5%	54%	42%	3%	–	2%
Magellan Strategies[139]	October 8–10, 2018	500	± 4.4%	47%	40%	4%	0%[140]	9%
Keating Research/Magellan Strategies[141]	September 18–20, 2018	600	± 4.0%	47%	40%	1%	0%[140]	11%
Kaiser Family Foundation/CO Health Foundation/SSRS[142]	August 15 – September 19, 2018	1,585	–	44%	33%	–	–	21%
Public Policy Polling (D-CO Democratic Party)[143]	June 27–28, 2018	608	–	47%	40%	–	–	13%
Strategies 360[43]	May 29 – June 6, 2018	500	± 4.4%	42%	37%	–	3%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Cary Kennedy (D)	Walker Stapleton (R)	Other	Undecided
Strategies 360[144]	May 23 – June 6, 2018	500	± 4.4%	43%	38%	4%	15%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Generic Democrat	Generic Republican	Undecided
Clarity Campaign Labs (D-DAGA)[145]	May 8–10, 2018	883	± 3.3%	52%	37%	11%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Tom Tancredo (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D-RBI]]/[[Polis)[146]	December 4–5, 2017	770	± 3.5%	46%	38%	–	16%
Braynard Group (R)[76]	September 26–28, 2017	1,000	± 3.2%	25%	25%	3%	47%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Cary Kennedy (D)	Tom Tancredo (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D-RBI]]/[[Polis)[146]	December 4–5, 2017	770	± 3.5%	45%	38%	–	17%
Keating Research (D)[147]	November 9–13, 2017	500	± 4.4%	50%	34%	3%	13%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mike Johnston (D)	Tom Tancredo (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D-RBI]]/[[Polis)[146]	December 4–5, 2017	770	± 3.5%	43%	39%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Donna Lynne (D)	Tom Tancredo (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D-RBI]]/[[Polis)[146]	December 4–5, 2017	770	± 3.5%	43%	38%	19%

Hypothetical polling

with Cary Kennedy

with Tom Tancredo

Results

2018 Colorado gubernatorial election^[148]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jared Polis	1,348,888	53.42%	+4.12%
	Republican	Walker Stapleton	1,080,801	42.80%	−3.15%
	Libertarian	Scott Helker	69,519	2.75%	+0.81%
	Unity	Bill Hammons	25,854	1.02%	—
Majority			268,087	10.62%	+7.27%
Turnout			2,525,062
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Conejos (largest town: Manassa)

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Chaffee (largest city: Salida)
• Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)

By congressional district

Polis won four of seven congressional districts.^[149]

District	Stapleton	Polis	Representative
1st	24%	73%	Diana DeGette
2nd	34%	62%	Joe Neguse
3rd	50%	46%	Scott Tipton
4th	58%	38%	Ken Buck
5th	57%	39%	Doug Lamborn
6th	42%	54%	Jason Crow
7th	38%	57%	Ed Perlmutter