2014 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2014 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Colorado, concurrently with the election to Colorado's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2014 Colorado gubernatorial election

← 2010 November 4, 2014 (2014-11-04) 2018 →

Nominee John Hickenlooper Bob Beauprez Party Democratic Republican Running mate Joe Garcia Jill Repella Popular vote 1,006,433 938,195 Percentage 49.30% 45.95%

County results Congressional district results Hickenlooper:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Beauprez:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%

Governor before election John Hickenlooper Democratic Elected Governor John Hickenlooper Democratic

Incumbent Democratic governor John Hickenlooper and Lieutenant Governor Joseph García were re-elected to a second term in office, narrowly defeating Republican former U.S. representative Bob Beauprez and his running mate, Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella, by 68,000 votes.

Democratic primary

John Hickenlooper was the only Democrat to file to run, and thus at the Democratic state assembly on April 12, 2014, he was renominated unopposed.^[1]

Candidates

Nominee

• John Hickenlooper, incumbent governor^[1][2]

Results

Democratic primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	John Hickenlooper (incumbent)	214,403	100.00
Total votes			214,403	100.00

Republican primary

At the Republican state assembly on April 12, 2014, Mike Kopp and Scott Gessler received 34% and 33% of the votes of over 3,900 delegates, respectively, thus winning a place on the ballot. Greg Brophy, Steve House and Roni Bell Sylvester received 19%, 13% and 2%, respectively, falling short of the 30% needed to qualify for the ballot. Bob Beauprez and Tom Tancredo did not contest the assembly vote, instead petitioning their way onto the ballot.^[4]

Candidates

Declared

• Bob Beauprez, former U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2006^[5]
• Scott Gessler, Secretary of State of Colorado^[6][7]
• Mike Kopp, former Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate^[7][8]

• Running mate: Vera Ortegon, biologist and former Pueblo City Councillor^[9]

• Tom Tancredo, former U.S. representative and Constitution Party nominee for governor in 2010^[10]

Eliminated at convention

• Greg Brophy, state senator^[7][11]
• Steve House, healthcare consultant and Chairman of the Adams County Republican Party^[7][12][13]
• Roni Bell Sylvester, rancher^[7][14]

Withdrew

• Jason Clark, money manager and independent candidate for governor in 2010^[15][16]
• Steve Laffey, former mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island and candidate for the U.S. Senate from Rhode Island in 2006 (running for CO-04)^[17][18]

Declined

• George Brauchler, Arapahoe County District Attorney^[19][20][21]
• Dan Caplis, radio host^[22]
• Cory Gardner, U.S. representative (running for the U.S. Senate)^[23]
• Jennifer George, attorney^[24]
• Cheri Gerou, state representative^[24]
• Victor Mitchell, former state representative^[22]
• Ellen Roberts, state senator^[24][25]
• Bob Schaffer, former U.S. representative, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008^[24][26]
• Lang Sias, former Navy fighter pilot (running for the State Senate)^[24][27]
• Walker Stapleton, Colorado State Treasurer (running for re-election)^[28]
• John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General^[22][29]

Endorsements

Bob Beauprez

• Wayne Allard, former U.S. senator^[30]
• Greg Brophy, state senator^[31]
• Pete Coors, Chairman of the Molson Coors Brewing Company, Chairman of MillerCoors, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2004^[30]
• Bob Greenlee, former mayor of Boulder^[30]
• Steve House, healthcare consultant and Chairman of the Adams County Republican Party^[32]
• Gale Norton, former Colorado Attorney General and former United States Secretary of the Interior^[30]
• Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado^[30]
• Rick Perry, Governor of Texas^[33]
• Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts^[34]
• John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General^[29]

Greg Brophy

Individuals

• George Brauchler, Arapahoe County District Attorney^[20]
• Shayne Heap, Elbert County Sheriff^[20]
• Mike May, former Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives^[20]
• Ellen Roberts, state senator^[20]

Organizations

• Gun Rights Across America^[30]
• Rocky Mountain Gun Owners^[30]

Scott Gessler

• Ken Bennett, Secretary of State of Arizona^[26]
• Eli Bremer, former chairman of the El Paso Republican Party^[26]
• Lois Landgraf, state representative^[20]
• Mark Martin, Secretary of State of Arkansas^[26]
• Ray Martinez, former mayor of Fort Collins^[26]
• Clarice Navarro, state representative^[20]
• Marcia Neal, member of the Colorado State Board of Education^[26]
• Brian Norton, Rio Grande County Sheriff^[26]
• George Rivera, state senator^[26]
• Bill Roy, former executive director of the El Paso Republican Party^[26]
• Bob Schaffer, former U.S. representative^[26]
• Lola Spradley, former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives^[26]
• Sam Susuras, Mayor of Grand Junction^[26]
• Lou Vallario, Garfield County Sheriff^[26]
• Dave Williams, former chairman of the Chaffee County Republican Committee^[26]
• Kim Wyman, Secretary of State of Washington^[26]

Mike Kopp

• William L. Armstrong, former U.S. senator^[30]
• Hank Brown, former U.S. senator^[30]
• Jane Norton, former lieutenant governor of Colorado and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010^[30]
• Janet Rowland, former Mesa County Commissioner and nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Colorado in 2006^[35]

Roni Bell Sylvester

• Mark Trostel, retired chief of the Colorado State Patrol^[20]

Tom Tancredo

• Joe Arpaio, Maricopa County Sheriff^[30]
• Michelle Malkin, conservative commentator^[36]
• Ted Nugent, musician and gun rights activist^[37]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bob Beauprez	Greg Brophy	Scott Gessler	Steve House	Mike Kopp	Jim Rundberg	Roni Bell Sylvester	Tom Tancredo	Other	Undecided
Magellan*[38]	May 28–29, 2014	>900	± 3%	25%	—	13%	—	10%	—	—	27%	—	25%
PPP[39]	March 13–16, 2014	255	± 6.1%	20%	7%	18%	3%	8%	—	1%	24%	—	18%
PPP[40]	December 3–4, 2013	335	± 5.2%	—	9%	15%	2%	3%	3%	—	34%	—	33%

• * Poll for the Bob Beauprez campaign

Results

Results by county:

  Beauprez

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Tancredo

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%
•   50–60%

  Gessler

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%

  Kopp

•   20–30%
•   30–40%
•   40–50%

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Beauprez	116,333	30.24
	Republican	Tom Tancredo	102,830	26.73
	Republican	Scott Gessler	89,213	23.19
	Republican	Mike Kopp	76,373	19.85
Total votes			384,749	100.00

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Matthew Hess, IT systems administrator^[41]

Green primary

Candidates

• Harry Hempy, software engineer and progressive activist^[42]

Unsuccessful

• Bill Bartlett, co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado^[42]

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Mike Dunafon, Mayor of Glendale^[43]
• Paul N. Fiorino, performing arts teacher and perennial candidate^[44]

Withdrew

• Jim Rundberg, businessman^[45]

General election

Candidates

• Bob Beauprez (R), former U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2006

• Running mate: Jill Repella, Douglas County Commissioner^[46]

• Mike Dunafon (I), Mayor of Glendale

• Running mate: Robin Roberts, president of Pikes Peak National Bank^[47]

• Paul Fiorino (I), performing arts teacher, former director of the Pueblo Ballet and Independent candidate for governor in 2006 and 2010^[44]

• Running mate: Charles Whitley, retired military, arts advocate and publisher^[48]

• Marcus Giavanni (write-in), internet developer, entrepreneur, musician^[49]

• Running mate: Joshua Yballa

• Matthew Hess (L), IT systems administrator^[50]

• Running mate: Brandon Young, photographer, graphic designer and political activist

• Harry Hempy (G), software engineer and progressive activist^[42]

• Running mate: Scott Olson

• John Hickenlooper (D), incumbent governor

• Running mate: Joseph García, incumbent lieutenant governor

Debates

• Complete video of debate, September 30, 2014 - C-SPAN
• Complete video of debate, October 6, 2014 - C-SPAN
• Complete video of debate, October 24, 2014 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[51]	Tossup	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[52]	Lean D	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[53]	Tilt D	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[54]	Tossup	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Bob Beauprez (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[55]	November 1–2, 2014	739	± 3.6%	46%	46%	5%[56]	3%
				48%	49%	—	3%
Quinnipiac University[57]	October 28 – November 2, 2014	815	± 3.4%	43%	45%	7%[58]	6%
				43%	45%	5%[59]	7%
				44%	45%	5%[60]	7%
YouGov[61]	October 25–31, 2014	1,417	± 3.3%	44%	42%	4%	10%
Public Policy Polling[62]	October 28–29, 2014	573	± ?	47%	47%	—	5%
SurveyUSA[63]	October 27–29, 2014	618	± 4%	46%	46%	4%[64]	4%
Vox Populi Polling[65]	October 26–27, 2014	642	± 3.9%	49%	44%	—	7%
Quinnipiac University[66]	October 22–27, 2014	844	± 3.4%	40%	45%	6%[67]	9%
				41%	46%	4%[68]	9%
				40%	45%	5%[69]	9%
Strategies 360[70]	October 20–25, 2014	604	± 4%	46%	43%	2%	8%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	October 21–23, 2014	966	± 3%	47%	49%	1%	3%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[72]	October 16–23, 2014	1,611	± 4%	48%	44%	1%	7%
NBC News/Marist[73]	October 18–22, 2014	755 LV	± 3.6%	46%	41%	7%[74]	6%
		953 RV	± 3.2%	46%	38%	8%[75]	9%
Suffolk University[76]	October 18–21, 2014	500	± 4.4%	43%	45.4%	3%[77]	7.6%
Quinnipiac University[78]	October 15–21, 2014	974	± 3.1%	45%	44%	4%[79]	7%
				45%	45%	3%[80]	7%
				45%	44%	3%[81]	8%
Monmouth University[82]	October 17–20, 2014	431	± 4.7%	50%	43%	3%	4%
IPSOS[83]	October 13–20, 2014	1,099	± 3.4%	46%	46%	—	8%
Public Policy Polling[84]	October 16–19, 2014	778	± 3.5%	45%	44%	5%[85]	7%
				46%	46%	—	8%
Gravis Marketing[86]	October 16, 2014	695	± 4%	44%	48%	6%[69]	3%
Quinnipiac[87]	October 9–13, 2014	988	± 3.1%	42%	46%	6%[88]	6%
				43%	48%	2%[89]	7%
				43%	46%	5%[69]	6%
CNN/ORC[90]	October 9–13, 2014	665	± 4%	49%	48%	—	3%
SurveyUSA[91]	October 9–12, 2014	591	± 4.1%	45%	44%	4%[92]	6%
High Point University[93]	October 4–8, 2014	800	± 3.5%	44%	46%	6%	4%
Fox News[94]	October 4–7, 2014	739	± 3.5%	42%	42%	6%	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[72]	September 20 – October 1, 2014	1,634	± 3%	49%	45%	1%	5%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	September 29–30, 2014	950	± 3%	50%	46%	2%	3%
Gravis Marketing[95]	September 16–17, 2014	657	± 4%	43%	48%	5%	4%
Suffolk University[96]	September 13–16, 2014	500	± 4.4%	43%	40.8%	6%[97]	10.2%
Quinnipiac[98]	September 10–15, 2014	1,211	± 2.8%	40%	50%	7%[58]	3%
				40%	52%	4%[68]	4%
				41%	51%	5%[60]	3%
Myers[99]	September 7–14, 2014	1,350	± 2.7%	51%	44%	1%	4%
SurveyUSA[100]	September 8–10, 2014	664	± 3.9%	45%	43%	7%[101]	5%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	September 3–4, 2014	800	± 3.5%	44%	45%	4%	7%
NBC News/Marist[102]	September 2–4, 2014	795 LV	± 3.5%	43%	39%	9%[103]	9%
		976 RV	± 3.1%	43%	36%	9%[103]	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[104]	August 18 – September 2, 2014	1,727	± 4%	45%	45%	2%	8%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[105]	July 5–24, 2014	2,020	± 3%	47%	47%	2%	3%
Public Policy Polling[106]	July 17–20, 2014	653	± 3.8%	44%	43%	—	12%
Quinnipiac[107]	July 10–14, 2014	1,147	± 2.9%	43%	44%	3%	10%
Gravis Marketing[108]	July 8–10, 2014	1,106	± 3%	49%	43%	6%[69]	3%
NBC News/Marist[109]	July 7–10, 2014	914	± 3.2%	49%	43%	1%	7%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	June 25–26, 2014	750	± 4%	44%	44%	4%	8%
Public Policy Polling[110]	April 17–20, 2014	618	± ?	48%	41%	—	11%
Quinnipiac[111]	April 15–21, 2014	1,298	± 2.7%	48%	39%	1%	12%
Magellan Strategies[112]	April 14–15, 2014	717	± 3.7%	50%	35%	10%	5%
Public Policy Polling[113]	March 13–16, 2014	568	± 4.1%	48%	38%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	50%	43%	—	6%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Greg Brophy (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[113]	March 13–16, 2014	568	± 4.1%	48%	33%	—	18%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	March 5–6, 2014	500	± 4.5%	42%	33%	8%	17%
Quinnipiac[115]	January 29 – February 2, 2014	1,139	± 2.9%	47%	37%	1%	14%
Public Policy Polling[116]	December 3–4, 2013	928	± 3.2%	44%	43%	—	12%
Quinnipiac[117]	November 15–18, 2013	1,206	± 2.8%	44%	38%	2%	16%
Quinnipiac[118]	August 15–21, 2013	1,184	± 2.9%	47%	42%	1%	11%
Quinnipiac[119]	June 5–10, 2013	1,065	± 3%	43%	37%	2%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Cory Gardner (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	51%	40%	—	9%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Scott Gessler (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[110]	April 17–20, 2014	618	± ?	48%	41%	—	12%
Quinnipiac[111]	April 15–21, 2014	1,298	± 2.7%	48%	38%	1%	13%
Public Policy Polling[113]	March 13–16, 2014	568	± 4.1%	48%	36%	—	16%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	March 5–6, 2014	500	± 4.5%	44%	38%	8%	11%
Quinnipiac[115]	January 29 – February 2, 2014	1,139	± 2.9%	46%	40%	1%	12%
Public Policy Polling[116]	December 3–4, 2013	928	± 3.2%	47%	40%	—	12%
Quinnipiac[117]	November 15–18, 2013	1,206	± 2.8%	45%	40%	1%	14%
Quinnipiac[118]	August 15–21, 2013	1,184	± 2.9%	47%	42%	1%	11%
Quinnipiac[119]	June 5–10, 2013	1,065	± 3%	42%	40%	2%	16%
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	50%	40%	—	11%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Mike Kopp (R)	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac[111]	April 15–21, 2014	1,298	± 2.7%	47%	38%	1%	14%
Public Policy Polling[113]	March 13–16, 2014	568	± 4.1%	49%	32%	—	19%
Quinnipiac[115]	January 29 – February 2, 2014	1,139	± 2.9%	47%	38%	2%	13%
Public Policy Polling[116]	December 3–4, 2013	928	± 3.2%	45%	37%	—	17%
Quinnipiac[117]	November 15–18, 2013	1,206	± 2.8%	44%	40%	2%	14%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Jane Norton (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	50%	39%	—	12%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Walker Stapleton (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	49%	38%	—	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	John Suthers (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	49%	39%	—	11%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Tom Tancredo (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[110]	April 17–20, 2014	618	± ?	50%	41%	—	10%
Quinnipiac[111]	April 15–21, 2014	1,298	± 2.7%	47%	40%	1%	11%
Public Policy Polling[113]	March 13–16, 2014	568	± 4.1%	50%	36%	—	13%
Hickman Analytics[120]	February 17–20, 2014	400	± 4.9%	51%	40%	—	9%
Rasmussen Reports[71]	March 5–6, 2014	500	± 4.5%	46%	37%	8%	9%
Quinnipiac[115]	January 29 – February 2, 2014	1,139	± 2.9%	48%	39%	1%	11%
Public Policy Polling[116]	December 3–4, 2013	928	± 3.2%	48%	40%	—	12%
Quinnipiac[117]	November 15–18, 2013	1,206	± 2.8%	46%	41%	1%	12%
Quinnipiac[118]	August 15–21, 2013	1,184	± 2.9%	46%	45%	1%	9%
A.L.G. Research[121]	June 27–30, 2013	400	± ?	51%	40%	0%	9%
Quinnipiac[119]	June 5–10, 2013	1,065	± 3%	42%	41%	2%	14%
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	52%	41%	—	7%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Hickenlooper (D)	Scott Tipton (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[114]	April 11–14, 2013	500	± 4.4%	50%	40%	—	10%

Results

Throughout the night, the race was very close. With 90% of the vote in, Beauprez was about 3,000 votes ahead. The Democrats were holding out hope that Jefferson County would edge them out. When 96% of the vote had reported, Hickenlooper prevailed. Beauprez conceded defeat at 5:48 am on the morning of November 6.

2014 Colorado gubernatorial election^[122]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	John Hickenlooper (incumbent)	1,006,433	49.30%	−1.76%
	Republican	Bob Beauprez	938,195	45.95%	+34.81%
	Libertarian	Matthew Hess	39,590	1.94%	+1.19%
	Green	Harry Hempy	27,391	1.34%	—
	Independent	Mike Dunafon	24,042	1.18%	—
	Independent	Paul Noel Fiorino	5,923	0.29%	—
	Write-ins		31	0.00%	—
Majority			68,238	3.34%	−11.33%
Turnout			2,041,605
	Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Archuleta (largest city: Pagosa Springs)
• Bent (largest city: Las Animas)
• Chaffee (largest city: Salida)
• Crowley (largest city: Ordway)
• Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
• Grand (largest city: Granby)
• Hinsdale (largest city: Lake City)
• Jackson (largest city: Walden)
• Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
• Mineral (largest city: Creede)
• Otero (largest city: La Junta)
• Rio Grande (largest city: Monte Vista)
• Sedgwick (largest city: Julesburg)

Counties that flipped from Constitution to Republican

• Baca (largest city: Springfield)
• Cheyenne (largest city: Cheyenne Wells)
• Custer (largest city: Silver Cliff)
• Delta (largest city: Delta)
• Douglas (largest city: Highlands Ranch)
• Elbert (largest city: Elizabeth)
• El Paso (largest city: Colorado Springs)
• Fremont (largest city: Canon City)
• Kiowa (largest city: Eads)
• Kit Carson (largest city: Burlington)
• Lincoln (largest city: Limon)
• Logan (largest city: Sterling)
• Mesa (largest city: Grand Junction)
• Moffat (largest city: Craig)
• Montrose (largest city: Montrose)
• Morgan (largest city: Fort Morgan)
• Park (largest city: Fairplay)
• Phillips (largest city: Holyoke)
• Prowers (largest city: Lamar)
• Rio Blanco (largest city: Meeker)
• Teller (largest city: Woodland Park)
• Washington (largest city: Akron)
• Weld (largest city: Greeley)
• Yuma (largest city: Yuma)

By congressional district

Hickenlooper won four of seven congressional districts, including one held by a Republican.^[123]

District	Hickenlooper	Beauprez	Representative
1st	69.38%	26.49%	Diana DeGette
2nd	57.12%	37.83%	Jared Polis
3rd	44.2%	50.77%	Scott Tipton
4th	35.94%	59.48%	Ken Buck
5th	33.63%	60.96%	Doug Lamborn
6th	49.71%	46.49%	Mike Coffman
7th	52.73%	42.07%	Ed Perlmutter

See also

• 2014 Colorado elections