2022 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2022 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2022 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis won re-election to a second term, defeating Republican University of Colorado regent Heidi Ganahl by a decisive margin. Ganahl conceded on election night.^[1] The primary election was held on June 28.^[2]

2022 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 8, 2022 2026 →
Turnout	66.28%
Nominee Jared Polis Heidi Ganahl Party Democratic Republican Running mate Dianne Primavera Danny Moore Popular vote 1,468,481 983,040 Percentage 58.53% 39.18%
County results Congressional district results Precinct results Polis:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Ganahl:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes
Governor before election Jared Polis Democratic Elected Governor Jared Polis Democratic

Polis' 2022 victory marked the first time in American history that an openly gay politician was re-elected as the governor of a state.^[3] Having won more than 58% of the vote, Polis had the best performance for a re-elected Colorado governor since Bill Owens in 2002, the best for a Democrat since Roy Romer in 1990, and the highest raw vote total ever in a Colorado gubernatorial race.

Democratic assembly

Candidates

Nominated at assembly

• Jared Polis, incumbent governor^[4]
  • Running mate: Dianne Primavera, incumbent lieutenant governor^[4]

Eliminated at assembly

• None

Results

Democratic primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jared Polis (incumbent)	523,489	100.00%
Total votes			523,489	100.00%

Republican primary

Former Colorado SBA director Greg Lopez finished second in the primary.

Candidates

Nominee

• Heidi Ganahl, member of the Regents of the University of Colorado^[6][7]
  • Running mate: Danny Moore, businessman^[8]

Eliminated in primary

• Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker and former director of the Small Business Administration for Colorado; candidate for governor in 2018 and for U.S. Senate in 2016^[9][10]

Eliminated at convention

• Laurie Clark^[9]
• Darryl Gibbs, truck driver and U.S. Air Force veteran^[11]
• Jon Gray-Ginsberg^[9]
• Danielle Neuschwanger, realtor^[9]
• Jim Rundberg, U.S. Army veteran, independent candidate for governor in 2014, and Republican candidate for President of the United States in 2016^[9][12]

Declined

• Guy Benson, political pundit, Fox News contributor, and political editor for Townhall^[13]
• Ken Buck, U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district, former chair of the Colorado Republican Party, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010^[14]
• Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (endorsed Ganahl)^[15]

Endorsements

Heidi Ganahl

Statewide officials

• Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (1999–2007)^[16]

Newspapers

• Colorado Springs Gazette (Republican primary only)^[17]

Results

Results by county:

  Ganahl

•   Ganahl—50–60%
•   Ganahl—60–70%

  Lopez

•   Lopez—50–60%
•   Lopez—60–70%

Republican primary results^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Heidi Ganahl	341,157	53.87%
	Republican	Greg Lopez	292,187	46.13%
Total votes			633,344	100.0%

American Constitution convention

Danielle Neuschwanger, the Constitution nominee

Candidates

Nominee

• Danielle Neuschwanger, realtor (previously ran for Republican nomination)^[18]
  • Running mate: Darryl Gibbs, truck driver and U.S. Air Force veteran (previously ran for Republican nomination)^[19]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[20]	Solid D	July 29, 2022
Inside Elections[21]	Solid D	July 22, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22]	Safe D	October 12, 2022
Politico[23]	Likely D	April 1, 2022
RCP[24]	Likely D	October 20, 2022
Fox News[25]	Likely D	May 12, 2022
538[26]	Solid D	July 31, 2022
Elections Daily[27]	Safe D	November 7, 2022

Endorsements

Jared Polis (D)

Labor unions

• National Education Association^[28]
• United Mine Workers^[29]

Organizations

• Cobalt Advocates^[30]
• Colorado AFL–CIO^[31]
• Colorado Black Women for Political Action^[32]
• Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights^[33]
• Democratic Governors Association^[34]
• Everytown for Gun Safety^[35]
• Human Rights Campaign^[36]
• Humane Society of the United States Legislative Fund^[37]
• One Colorado^[38]
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund^[33]
• Save the Children USA^[39]
• Stand for Children^[40]

Newspapers

• The Denver Post^[41]
• Sentinel Colorado^[42]

Heidi Ganahl (R)

Federal officials

• Elise Stefanik, U.S. representative from New York's 21st congressional district (2015–present) and Chair of the House Republican Conference (2021–present)^[43]

Statewide officials

• Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (1999–2007)^[16]
• Glenn Youngkin, Governor of Virginia (2022–present)^[44]

Organizations

• Colorado Fraternal Order of Police^[45]
• Republican Governors Association^[46]
• Stand for Health Freedom^[47]

Newspapers

• Fort Morgan Times^[48]
• The Gazette^[49]

Danielle Neuschwanger (ACP)

U.S. Executive Branch officials

• Michael Flynn, former U.S. National Security Advisor (2017) and former Director of the DIA (2012–2014) (Democratic)^[50]

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll aggregation	Dates administered	Dates updated	Jared Polis (D)	Heidi Ganahl (R)	Other [a]	Margin
Real Clear Politics[51]	October 26 – November 5, 2022	November 8, 2022	53.0%	42.3%	4.7%	Polis +10.7
FiveThirtyEight[52]	June 8 – November 8, 2022	November 8, 2022	54.1%	41.8%	4.1%	Polis +12.3
270ToWin[53]	November 1–7, 2022	November 8, 2022	54.0%	42.0%	4.0%	Polis +12.0
Average			53.7%	42.0%	4.3%	Polis +11.7

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Heidi Ganahl (R)	Other	Undecided
co/efficient (R)[54]	November 3–7, 2022	856 (LV)	± 3.3%	54%	43%	2%[c]	2%
Data for Progress (D)[55]	November 2–5, 2022	1,983 (LV)	± 2.0%	55%	43%	2%[d]	–
The Trafalgar Group (R)[56]	October 30 – November 1, 2022	1,084 (LV)	± 2.9%	50%	43%	5%[e]	3%
Emerson College[57]	October 26–29, 2022	1,000 (LV)	± 3.0%	54%	40%	4%[f]	3%
				54%	41%	4%[g]	–
The Trafalgar Group (R)[58][A]	October 25–27, 2022	1,174 (LV)	± 2.9%	50%	42%	6%[h]	3%
CU Boulder/YouGov[59]	October 11–19, 2022	709 (LV)	± 4.4%	57%	41%	2%[i]	–
Civiqs[60]	October 15–18, 2022	600 (LV)	± 5.0%	55%	40%	2%[j]	3%
Global Strategy Group (D)[61][B]	October 6–11, 2022	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	52%	34%	6%[k]	8%
				54%	39%	–	7%
Marist College[62]	October 3–6, 2022	1,127 (RV)	± 4.7%	54%	36%	2%[l]	7%
		983 (LV)	± 5.0%	54%	39%	3%[m]	5%
Data for Progress (D)[63]	October 3–6, 2022	1,005 (LV)	± 3.0%	56%	39%	3%[n]	2%
Keating Research/Magellan Strategies[64]	September 18–26, 2022	1,060 (LV)	± 3.0%	51%	34%	2%[o]	12%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[65]	September 20–24, 2022	1,078 (LV)	± 2.9%	49%	41%	4%[p]	6%
Emerson College[66]	September 18–19, 2022	1,000 (LV)	± 3.0%	53%	36%	2%[q]	9%
Remington Research Group (R)[67][A]	August 21–22, 2022	1,503 (LV)	± 2.5%	49%	42%	–	9%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[68]	August 15–19, 2022	1,087 (LV)	± 2.9%	47%	42%	6%[r]	5%
Global Strategy Group (D)[69][B]	June 2–8, 2022	400 (RV)	± 4.9%	50%	32%	5%[s]	13%
				54%	37%	–	9%
Global Strategy Group (D)[70][B]	February 11–15, 2022	400 (RV)	± 4.9%	53%	37%	–	10%
Global Strategy Group (D)[71][B]	October 19–24, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	52%	35%	–	13%
Global Strategy Group (D)[72][B]	June 17–23, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	54%	34%	–	12%

Hypothetical polling

Jared Polis vs. Greg Lopez

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Greg Lopez (R)	Danielle Neuschwanger (ACP)	Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[69][B]	June 2–8, 2022	400 (RV)	± 4.9%	52%	32%	6%	10%
				53%	39%	–	8%

Jared Polis vs. Danielle Neuschwanger

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Danielle Neuschwanger (R)	Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[70][B]	February 11–15, 2022	400 (RV)	± 4.9%	51%	40%	9%

Jared Polis vs. generic Republican

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Generic Republican	Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[73][B]	June 2–8, 2022	800 (RV)	± 3.4%	54%	38%	8%
Global Strategy Group (D)[70][B]	February 11–15, 2022	400 (RV)	± 4.9%	54%	38%	8%
Cygnal (R)[74][C]	January 12–13, 2022	630 (LV)	± 3.9%	49%	44%	8%
Global Strategy Group (D)[75][B]	June 17–23, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	49%	39%	12%

Debates

2022 Colorado gubernatorial general election debates

No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
					Jared Polis	Heidi Ganahl
2	Oct. 14, 2022	CBS Colorado			P	P

Results

State Senate district results

Swing by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +>15%
•   Democratic — +12.5-15%
•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

Trend by county

Legend

•   Democratic — +>15%
•   Democratic — +12.5-15%
•   Democratic — +10-12.5%
•   Democratic — +7.5-10%
•   Democratic — +5-7.5%
•   Democratic — +2.5-5%
•   Democratic — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +0-2.5%
•   Republican — +2.5-5%
•   Republican — +5-7.5%
•   Republican — +7.5-10%
•   Republican — +10-12.5%
•   Republican — +12.5-15%
•   Republican — +>15%

2022 Colorado gubernatorial election^[76]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jared Polis (incumbent) Dianne Primavera (incumbent)	1,468,481	58.53%	+5.11%
	Republican	Heidi Ganahl Danny Moore	983,040	39.18%	−3.62%
	Libertarian	Kevin Ruskusky Michele Poague	28,939	1.15%	−1.60%
	American Constitution	Danielle Neuschwanger Darryl Gibbs	21,623	0.86%	N/A
	Unity	Paul Noël Fiorino Cynthia Munhos de Aquino Sirianni	6,687	0.27%	−0.75%
	Write-in		60	0.0%	N/A
Total votes			2,540,680	100.0%	N/A
Turnout			2,540,680	66.28%
Registered electors			3,833,360
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Grand (largest city: Granby)
• Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)

By congressional district

Polis won six of eight congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.^[77]

District	Polis	Ganahl	Representative
1st	82%	16%	Diana DeGette
2nd	72%	26%	Joe Neguse
3rd	50%	47%	Lauren Boebert
4th	42%	55%	Ken Buck
5th	47%	50%	Doug Lamborn
6th	63%	35%	Jason Crow
7th	60%	38%	Ed Perlmutter (117th Congress)
			Brittany Pettersen (118th Congress)
8th	53%	44%	Yadira Caraveo

Analysis

Incumbent governor Jared Polis easily won re-election by 19.3%, a margin much larger than aggregate polling predicted. Polis piled up massive margins in the heavily populous North Central Colorado Urban Area, which contains the state capital Denver plus its surrounding suburbs Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood, and Broomfield; in addition to other major cities Boulder and Fort Collins, home to the University of Colorado and Colorado State University respectively. Outside the Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins region, Polis also won a long row of counties along the Rocky Mountains from Routt in the north to La Plata in the south, which contains a number of liberal leaning ski resort towns like Telluride, Aspen, and Steamboat Springs. In Southern Colorado, a region historically known for coal mining, and home to a sizable Hispanic population, Polis managed to halt the decline in support for Democrats that had been taking place here since the mid-2010s in both state and federal races. Polis also won the relatively conservative city of Colorado Springs, the first Democrat to do so in recent history, along with greatly increasing his vote share in conservative-leaning urban counties compared to 2018.^[78] Polis's definitive victory likely helped other Democrats down the ballot to win their races or win them by comfortable margins, allowing Democrats to keep control of the state government.^[79]

Heidi Ganahl did best in the traditionally rural areas of Colorado bordering Kansas in the east, Utah in the west, and several larger counties including Weld (Greeley), Douglas (Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch), and El Paso (Colorado Springs). In the latter two counties, Ganahl significantly underperformed previous Republican nominees in these traditionally conservative urban counties, winning Douglas by 0.38% and El Paso by 3.97%, the closest either county had come to voting Democratic since 1994 and 1982 respectively. Ganahl failed to appeal to the large unaffiliated bloc of state voters along with political moderates. During her campaign, she highlighted her opposition to abortion (at odds with most Colorado voters), utilized incendiary right-wing rhetoric in regards to several social and cultural issues, and courted figures involved with pushing conspiracy theories about elections.^[80][81]

Prior to the election, an article by Daniel Strain from the University of Colorado reported that 71% of Colorado voters said their state's elections will be conducted "fairly and accurately", while 54% said the same for other elections across the United States. 53% of voters also disapproved of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to overturn Roe v. Wade. 63% of voters said Joe Biden won the 2020 election, although Biden had a 52% disapproval among Centennial State voters compared to 39% who approved of him.^[82]

Despite Biden's low approval, a Marist poll conducted in October found that amongst 1,221 Colorado adults, Governor Polis had a 50% approval, while Ganahl suffered from low name recognition, with 42% having either never heard of her or were unsure how to rate her. The same poll also found that 34% of voters were most concerned about inflation, followed by preserving democracy at 29%, abortion at 16%, crime at 7%, followed by healthcare and immigration at 6% each.^[83]

See also

• 2022 Colorado elections
• 2022 United States Senate election in Colorado
• 2016 Colorado State Board of Regents at-large election

Notes

1. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
3. "Someone else" with 2%
4. Ruskusky (L) with 1%; "Another candidate" with 1%
5. Ruskusky (L) with 2%; "Other" with 3%
6. Neuschwanger (ACP) with 2%; Fiorino (U) with 1%; Ruskusky (L) with <1%; "Someone else" with 1%
7. "Someone else" with 2%; Neuschwanger (ACP) with 2%; Fiorino (U) with 1%; Ruskusky (L) with <1%
8. Neuschwanger (ACP) with 3%; Ruskusky (L) with 2%; Fiorino (U) with 1%
9. "Other" with 2%
10. "Someone else" with 2%
11. Ruskusky (L) with 4%; Neuschwanger (ACP) with 2%
12. "Another party's candidate" with 2%
13. "Another party's candidate" with 3%
14. Ruskusky (L) with 1%; "Another candidate" with 2%
15. Ruskusky (L) with 1%; Neuschwanger (ACP) with 1%
16. Ruskusky (L) with 2%; "Other" with 2%
17. "Someone else" with 2%
18. Ruskusky (L) with 4%; "Other" with 2%
19. Neuschwanger (ACP) with 5%

Partisan clients

1. This poll was sponsored by Ganahl's campaign
2. This poll was sponsored by ProgressNow Colorado, a liberal nonprofit organization.
3. This poll was sponsored by Ready Colorado