Marine veteran Victor Marx has won the Colorado Republican gubernatorial primary, narrowly defeating state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in a race that was called on Thursday. State Rep. Scott Bottoms finished in a distant third place.
Marx, who announced his victory in a post on X, stated, "THANK YOU, COLORADO. Because of you, your time, your door knocking, your phone calls, and your belief in something bigger than politics, we just won the Republican nomination for Governor."
According to his campaign website, Marx has led more than 150 missions globally through his organization All Things Possible Ministries, providing trauma relief and medical aid. His memoir reportedly details a childhood incident where he alleged his stepfather forced him to shoot someone.
Kirkmeyer, in a statement, expressed gratitude to her supporters and noted the close nature of the primary. "While we came up short in what appears to be the closest Republican gubernatorial primary in Colorado history, I'm grateful for every voter who placed their trust in us," she said.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, the Democratic candidate for governor, issued a statement criticizing Marx's nomination. "From the little we know about Victor Marx, his views and style are far out of step with Coloradans, and his nomination for governor is a threat to our state’s values and our future," Weiser said.
The state has not elected a Republican governor since 2002.