July 1, 2026: Taking Colorado's political pulse post-primary

Summary

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Colorado Matters – July 1, 2026: Taking Colorado’s Political Pulse Post-Primary

Episode Overview

On this episode, hosts Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield dive into the aftermath of Colorado’s pivotal 2026 primary election. With upsets on both sides of the aisle, including a stunning ouster of a decades-long Democratic incumbent and a razor-thin Republican gubernatorial primary, the show examines what these results reveal about voter sentiment, party dynamics, and the issues driving Coloradans. Featuring interviews with candidates, on-the-ground reporting, and an expert panel spanning the political spectrum, this episode offers incisive analysis, commentary, and firsthand reactions.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

Rapid-Recap of Race Headlines

• Senate: Incumbent Michael Bennett holds his seat after primary.
• Governor (Democrats): State Attorney General Phil Weiser defeats Bennett for gubernatorial nomination.
• Congressional Shock: 29-year-old public affairs grad Mehlat Kiros unseats long-tenured Rep. Diana DeGette in CO-1.
• Republican Gubernatorial (Too Close to Call): State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer leads Victor Marks by just 1,300 votes, with counting ongoing.

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[02:06] GOP Gubernatorial Primary: Kirkmeyer Interview

Kirkmeyer’s Assessment of a Tight Race

• Optimism about outstanding votes favoring her in large counties:

  "Now I'm still optimistic. The votes that are still out that still need to be counted are in the large counties and they're the large counties along the Front Range that I've been doing pretty well in." —Barbara Kirkmeyer [02:06]

Explaining Republican Vote Distribution

• Attributes closeness to turnout, spending, and voter outreach.
• Argues GOP isn’t shifting further right, but has “more traditional” base voters in low-turnout primaries.
• Criticism of media urging unaffiliateds to vote in Democratic primaries, impacting GOP turnout:

  "I don't think that it helped that we had, you know, media people telling people to...fill out your Democrat ballots." —Barbara Kirkmeyer [03:26]

The Republican Coalition Going Forward

• Kirkmeyer frames the general election as an opportunity to build a broad coalition:

  "We need to get them all. That's what needs to happen in a general election." [05:47]

• Asserts Democrats have moved “way too far to the left,” creating an opening for GOP appeals to moderates.

Relationship to MAGA Branding and Message

• Stresses “affordability, public safety, protecting kids, fixing roads” will stay central; distances from hardline identity politics.

  “I'm going to stick with my messaging...It's the issues that are most important to the greater number of voters in Colorado.” —Barbara Kirkmeyer [08:14]

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[10:02] Inside the Victor Marks Camp – Ben Marcus Reporting

Victors & Spoilers

• Marks, a political novice dubbed “the most interesting man in the world,” sees the tight race as evidence people want change.
• His campaign exuded confidence but is ready to seek legal recourse if results remain close.
• The role of third candidate Scott Bottoms as a spoiler is widely discussed among supporters:

  “There was a lot of grumbling about Scott Bottoms stealing votes from Victor Marks...” —Ben Marcus [13:17]

Unorthodox GOP Campaigns

• Unusual elements: claims of unverified events, religious rhetoric, and sparse traditional media coverage.
• Marks: “high-risk humanitarian” outsider running against establishment currents.

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[14:06] Phil Weiser’s Democratic Victory Speech

Weiser’s Message to Democrats

• Frames win as a victory for bold, energetic leadership that will fight for affordability, clean environment, and stand up to the Trump administration.

  “Colorado, you chose fresh, energetic and bold leadership that starts by asking, how can I help?” —Phil Weiser [14:06]

• Pledges focus on “healthcare, childcare and housing,” and “to protect our land, air, water.”

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[15:46] Panel Insights: Left, Right, and Center

Panelists:

• Alton Dillard: Unaffiliated, former comms for Denver Clerk and Recorder
• Bianca Emerson: Democratic strategist, Colorado Black Women for Political Action President
• Krista Kafer: Republican columnist, Denver Post, “Never Trump”

Can Phil Weiser Be ‘Anti-Establishment’? [17:00]

• Emerson argues yes, Weiser succeeded in separating himself from Bennett and connecting with progressive, left-leaning voters with an outsider tone despite his AG background.

Kafer Rates GOP Gubernatorial Field [18:03]

• Kirkmeyer seen as “mainstream Republican” and “smart, sharp...a good alternative,” compared to previous, less effective GOP nominees.

The Denver Progressive Surge [21:42]

• Emerson notes Denver’s younger, progressive electorate is seeking “people that look like me” and support bold policy over centrism.
• Kafer: “Are these really socialists or are they simply reacting to the crony capitalism, the great inequities that we're seeing...?” [22:37]

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[24:01] Mehlat Kiros’ Upset in CO-1 – Victory Speech Highlight

Kiros Delivers Vision for Democratic Socialism

• Frames win as generational, anti-corporate, pro-justice:

  “We will not wait to take the fight to Donald Trump and the oligarchy... We will not wait to abolish ICE and pass Medicare for all.” —Mehlat Kiros [24:01]

• Personalizes story as a 29-year-old, immigrant, recovering lawyer, and barista.

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[27:31] Panel: Democratic Socialists and the Dem Mainstream

• Emerson: Differences between Democratic Socialists and mainstream Democrats are more about approach than core values.

  “At the very base, there isn't too much of a difference. ...But some think the socialist concept is a little more radical and it's really not. It's just that how do we get to this? And people are tired of waiting.” [27:31]

Kiros’ Win as a Pendulum Swing? [28:36]

• Dillard: Sees Kiros as part of a broader “pendulum” swing following Trump’s reelection, and a sign of voters’ appetite for change and generational turnover.

Jewish Community Concerns ([30:23] Rabbi Quotation)

• Host Warner highlights Jewish concerns with Kiros’ candidacy related to Israel/Gaza rhetoric.
• Kafer urges candidates to “never cross that line to belittle Jewish people in general,” emphasizing the need for nuance in criticism of Israel. [31:21]

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[34:12] Voter Voices: What’s Driving Decisions?

• Sampling from unaffiliated, Democrat, and GOP voters reflects:
  • Disillusionment with “lifetime politicians” and the “old guard.”
  • Strong appetite for progressive ideas and fresh candidates.
  • Age a recurring factor: “I will never vote for anybody that’s over 60...” [35:04]
  • Affordability as a universal concern.

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[36:30] Focus: Affordability Becomes the Uniting Issue

Panel Consensus on Cost-of-Living

• Dillard: “Denver is at risk of becoming a San Francisco, a boutique city where no one can afford to live.”
• Kafer: Democrats partly to blame via fees/taxes, but both national parties have fueled inflation.
• Emerson: Progressive support tied to cost of living under establishment leadership:

  “These new, younger professional group...want to be able to buy a house soon...not be burdened down with just the cost of basic ideas in living in society.” [39:17]

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[40:07] Down Ballot: Senate Primary & The Limits of the Progressive Wave

• Hickenlooper’s folksy, enduring appeal allows him to fend off progressive Julie Gonzalez (55% to 45%):

  “He did not agree to an interview with this program...maybe the safest route.” —Ryan Warner [41:33]

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[42:16+] CD8 as Colorado’s Swing Epicenter

• The 8th is the “most competitive, most Latino” district (40%).
• GOP’s Gabe Evans faces progressive Manny Rutinel, who defeated moderate Shannon Bird in the Dem primary.
• Dillard: Rutinel needs a clearer progressive stance to inspire voters, but equivocating may hurt in a swing district.
• Kafer: Bird would have been more competitive; Rutinel’s veganism and leftism not a fit for “truck-driving,” ag-heavy district, but “he would be a great fit for Boulder, Denver.”
• Emerson: GOP is eager to tie Rutinel to “radical socialist” Kiros; unclear if that will doom Dems as state trends left.

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[47:14] The Role of Money in 2026

• Dillard: “Money doesn’t equal victory,” evidenced by Marks’ failure despite outspending Kirkmeyer.
• Notes brewing changes with campaign finance laws after a new Supreme Court ruling.

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Notable Quotes & Standout Moments

• “I'm about the same age that my dad was when he came to this country betting on the promise. He chose Denver to be our home because he knew that this city would welcome us. And that same city just voted to send a 29 year old recovering lawyer, barista, immigrant, democratic socialist to Congress.”
  —Mehlat Kiros [00:49], repeated in victory [24:01]

• “Colorado, you chose fresh, energetic and bold leadership that starts by asking, how can I help?”
  —Phil Weiser [14:06]

• “It's unlike anything I've seen in 20 years of reporting. You have one candidate who claims there's pedophile rings operating in the state capitol...I think the inclusion of God and religion in these campaigns is unlike anything outwardly that I've seen before.”
  —Ben Marcus [12:06]

• “There isn't too much of a difference [between Dems and Democratic Socialists]...People are tired of waiting for change.”
  —Bianca Emerson [27:31]

• “Denver is at risk of becoming a San Francisco, a boutique city where no one can afford to live.”
  —Alton Dillard [36:32]

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Thematic Takeaways

• Surging Progressives: Overwhelming support for new, younger, and more progressive candidates, especially in Denver.
• GOP Uncertainty: Republicans split between traditional conservatives and hard-right or outsider elements; party cohesion remains fragile.
• Affordability Reigns: The issue of cost of living overrides partisanship and ideology, tying together both the dissatisfaction and hope voiced by voters and politicians.
• Generational Shift: Strong backlash against “lifetime politicians” and desire for generational turnover.
• Money ≠ Victory: 2026 exposes limits of campaign spending.

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [02:06] – Kirkmeyer interview: analyzing GOP turnout and strategy
• [10:02] – Victor Marks camp, outsider dynamics, spoiler effect
• [14:06] – Phil Weiser’s victory speech
• [15:46] – Panel introductions and opening analysis
• [17:00] – Weiser’s anti-establishment image
• [21:42] – Denver’s progressive lean, breakdown of Bennett-Weiser results
• [24:01] – Mehlat Kiros’s victory speech
• [27:31] – Panel: socialism vs. mainstream Democrats
• [30:23] – Gaza/Israel, community reactions
• [34:12] – Voter voices and qualitative trends
• [36:30] – The “Affordability Party”
• [42:16] – Senate/primary crosscurrents, Hickenlooper-Gonzalez
• [43:37] – CD8: what competitive really looks like
• [47:14] – Money’s diminishing impact

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Conclusion

This episode of Colorado Matters paints a vivid picture of a state at a crossroads: generational change accelerates, progressive insurgency upends establishment politics, and cost-of-living issues unite Coloradans across party lines. With November looming, coalition-building, messaging around affordability, and candidate authenticity will likely decide Colorado’s—and perhaps the nation’s—political direction.

Transcript

[Mehlat Kiros]

Each story you hear on Planet Money

[Ryan Warner]

starts with a what happens if we refund tariffs? Why are groceries so expensive? At npr, we stand for your right

[Bianca Emerson]

to be curious because the forces shaping our world can be hard to see.

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

Follow NPR's Planet Money wherever you get your podcasts and start seeing how the economy really works.

[Ryan Warner]

The rhyme stuck. Primary voters keep Bennett in Senate, choosing Phil Weiser as their Democratic candidate for governor.

[Phil Weiser]

You chose fresh, energetic and bold leadership. That starts by asking, how can I

[Ryan Warner]

help In Denver, a graduate student in public affairs unseats a 30 year congresswoman.

[Mehlat Kiros]

I'm about the same age that my dad was when he came to this country betting on the promise. He chose Denver to be our home because he knew that this city would welcome us. And that same city just voted to send a 29 year old recovering lawyer, barista, immigrant, democratic socialist to Congress.

[Ryan Warner]

Candidate Voices and analysis from the left, right and center. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Ryan Warner. Denver dumps Deget Bennett stays in the Senate, hick staves off a primary challenge. This PR now gives way to November's general election, except in the Republican gubernatorial contest. As of just a few minutes ago, State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer was just about 1300 votes ahead of minister and veteran Victor Marks. I reached Kirkmeyer earlier this morning. Senator, thank you for being with us. Yes, we'll be refreshing the election results all morning, perhaps all day. How are you feeling about your lead right now?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

Now I'm still optimistic. The votes that are still out that still need to be counted are in the large counties and they're the large counties along the Front Range that I've been doing pretty well in. So still feel pretty good about it. But you know, we don't know until we know.

[Ryan Warner]

Yeah, I'm looking at the map of your support versus Victor Marx's. You're doing very well in metro Denver, in Fort Collins, in your own backyard of Weld county, less well in Colorado Springs on the Western Slope in southern Colorado. What does the closeness of this race tell you about where the Republican Party is right now?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

I think it actually more tells us about the lack of spending, the lack of, you know, voter contact and being able to get the message out as well. I mean, I know we're gonna be just probably shy of about 700,000 raised. I don't remember where Victor was, but I know that our voter contact and outreach was better than his, even though I think he outraised me probably like to one or maybe four to one somewhere in There.

[Ryan Warner]

Well, let me, let me go back to that question about what message, perhaps primary voters who chose to take part in the Republican primary and that can be Republicans or unaffiliated. Where do you think their head's at given these results?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

I don't know. Honestly, mixed reviews. I do know that they're probably looking at, people should be looking at what happened in the Democrat side where Denver voted in a socialist in the congressional race, kicked out a 29 year, 30 year incumbent in Diana Deget. So that's kind of, I think that's interesting. Stark news. Maybe it's a reality check that you know where the Democrats are going. I mean you always think they can't go any farther left than they've gone and then they just continue to keep going farther left and it seems like they're more centrist, you know, center left leaning Democrats didn't do as well. They didn't prevail as well in this election. So I think that's interesting because I, I don't think that's where the Republicans are. I don't know that they're necessarily going any farther right. Again, I just think it's, it's a low voter turnout. So you get some of the more traditional folks in there and then you may get some, some new folks. And I don't think that it helped that we had, you know, media people telling people to fill out your Democrat if you're unaffiliated, fill out your Democrat ballots. I don't think that helped either. But so it's just kind of a low voter turnout. Which means, you know, quite frankly, these are the people that normally, probably, normally vote in Republican primaries and they're probably, I mean, they're not center right. They're probably more farther to the right than what we would find in a general election.

[Ryan Warner]

I mean, Scott Bottoms and Victor Marks combined earned more votes than you, which might suggest that Republicans are leaning more. Right?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

Yeah, I would think so. I just think the other thing is, I think when you look at again, where I'm doing well is in the metro area, which is where, you know, I've had a lot of earned. It's also where we concentrate it because of my Senate district and being a former Weld county commissioner. So we concentrated in those areas more than any place. And I think that's, you know, being demonstrated as well. Again, it's about getting the vote out where, it's where we've been walking, making calls, sending text messages, all of those types of things you've said.

[Ryan Warner]

If Victor Marks wins, you wouldn't throw your support behind him. If you win, his voters may remember that. I guess. Unaffiliated aside, do you have concerns about uniting GOP voters if you prevail?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

I just think when we get to a general election, it's more about building a coalition of all hard working Coloradoans. You know, whether it's Republicans, unaffiliated independents, whoever it is, we need to get them all. That's what needs to happen in a general election. I don't see Republicans going and voting for a Phil Weiser because I think again, that party's just gone way too far to the left and I think he's pretty far to the left. So I don't see Republicans voting that way. And I think because of the congressional races and the whole ballot that we'll be able to get Republicans to come out and vote. I mean that that will be the challenge that, that we all have. But it's also going to be a challenge to make sure that we are talking to unaffiliated and getting them to come out and vote and vote more to the right than to the left, more towards Republicans than Democrats.

[Ryan Warner]

2 million unaffiliated voters in Colorado now, that compares to about a million Democrats, just under a million Republicans. Do you see if you prevail here and you run against Phil Weiser, you know, just knowing the history is that there hasn't been a Republican governor in Colorado for two decades. Do you see your candidacy as a long shot candidacy?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

I think I see it as an opportunity. I think we do have actually a pretty good shot at it because the unaffiliated voters and quite frankly pretty much everybody except for the very far left are saying, look, the state's going the wrong way and it's on the wrong track. And so I think that's a strong positive and it's a strong message that we can use to build that coalition. Who knows? I think we can. We might even be able to pick up some of the more center left Democrats because they're so unhappy with their party as well. You know, both Polis and Hickenlooper and even Bennett were, you know, their favorables were down below 40%. Their unfavorables. The last poll I saw for Governor Polis, he was like at 52, 53% unfavorable. So that's where things have just really flipped on the Democrat Party, which is kind of amazing that they did go so far to the left in their races in the primary.

[Ryan Warner]

Last question before I let you go. The MAGA Brand is. Is not successful in Colorado for the most part. It's not a statewide winning brand. Is it an identity that you embrace, one that you feel you have to distance yourself from? What is your relationship to Matt?

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

You know, you know, quite frankly, in a general election, I'm going to stick with my messaging that I've been doing in the primary as well. Because it's the issues that are most important to the greater number of voters in the state of Colorado. It's their concerns. And it, I mean, honestly, I don't think it matters which party you to or if it's the unaffiliates you're talking to. They're telling us that it's the affordability issue, the public safety issue. You know, making sure protecting our kids and then even fixing the roads is an issue for people as well. And those, those seem to be like the top four issues that I've focused on in the primary. I'm going to continue to focus those, focus on those in the general election as well. Because again, it, it's about all Coloradoans and how are they feeling, how are they feeling about their government, how are they feeling about living here? And I think for the most part people are telling us that it's just way too exp. We've got to do something to tackle this unaffordability issue that the Democrats have created in the last eight years. I don't think it is missed on voters out there that we have been under one party control for the last eight years. They've controlled the governor's office, they've controlled the House and they've controlled the Senate. And the mess that our state is in, it's. It clearly lays at their feet. And I think hard working Coloradoans are tired of Democrats telling them the only answer is we need more of your tax dollars. So that's what I'm gonna focus on.

[Ryan Warner]

And that comes from the perspective of a senator on the joint budget Committee. I'll note which kind of holds the purse strings. Senator, thank you so much for being with us.

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

Yeah, thank you. Appreciate your time.

[Ryan Warner]

State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, who hopes to hold onto her very narrow lead in the Republican gubernatorial primary. She represents portions of Weld and Larimer counties with her current job. With a picture of The Marks campaign, CPR's Ben Marcus joins us. Hi, Ben.

[Ben Marcus]

Hey, good morning.

[Ryan Warner]

You were at Marx's watch party. You've covered the GOP gubernatorial race from the start. What is Marx saying last night?

[Ben Marcus]

He was talking about how exciting it was. This is, after all his first election. He was a political unknown when he announced his candidacy last fall. He joked, though last night that it's a bit more exciting than he thought it would be. His campaign had exuded confidence for the last month. They have all the money, all the social media followers, but it was obviously not the result they were hoping for. At least late last night. The race has tightened as more votes have been counted, and he told his supporters to expect lawyers and maybe even a recount if the result stays this close.

[Alton Dillard]

We want to inspire people to go,

[Ryan Warner]

hey, a good guy can win.

[Alton Dillard]

Somebody can win without mudslinging and stand on the basic principles and common sense that people want. So what's happening right now is an

[Ryan Warner]

attest to how Coloradans want change or

[Alton Dillard]

we wouldn't be in the position we're in.

[Ryan Warner]

About halfway through the night, his campaign asked supporters to pray for Marx. What was the vibe in the room?

[Ben Marcus]

So this watch party is done in Larkspur, Colorado, which I'm embarrassed to say I'd never been before. Its claim to fame is the Renaissance Fair. And so there's this ranch out in the middle of nowhere, but it was packed, people, they said in this event center. And so when they asked people to pray, most of the room would gather in little circles or clasp their hands at tables. It was really kind of moving to see. Marx later said that he credited that for shrinking the deficit throughout the night.

[Ryan Warner]

Marx is a self described high risk humanitarian, not a traditional candidate, one who has made claims he can't substantiate. How would you characterize this Republican primary race for governor and these inconclusive results?

[Ben Marcus]

It's unlike anything I've seen in 20 years of reporting. You have one candidate who claims there's pedophile rings operating in the state capitol. State Rep. Scott Bottoms Marks has talked about participating in a homicide when he was seven years old. We can't find any records to verify that. I think the inclusion of God in religion in these campaigns is unlike anything outwardly that I've seen before. And I think that in this era of maybe the smallest news media plus the influence of social media, it kind of confuses what we think of as how races play out traditionally. And so this inconclusive results is partly because we're just so low information. There were so few public polls, nobody really had a sense of where things were going.

[Ryan Warner]

It was also true that Marx did not agree to all of the debates. And so just the, the vetting I think you're getting at was perhaps lighter, less strenuous. Than it's been. Did Mark say anything about what role third place finisher Scott Bottoms may have played as a spoiler in this race?

[Ben Marcus]

Yeah, as I was walking through the crowd last night, there was a lot of grumbling about Scott Bottoms stealing votes from Victor Marks, especially in El Paso County. Both of them are from Colorado Springs. Both are ministry adjacent. Marks isn't a minister, but he has a ministry this nonpro that does this goods. He claims Scott Bottoms is a pastor. And so I think that there was a lot of grumbling that they stole votes from each other. And Mark's called Bottoms the spoiler here.

[Ryan Warner]

Thanks, Ben. Appreciate it.

[Ben Marcus]

Thank you.

[Ryan Warner]

CPR's Ben Marcus. Meantime, on the Democratic side, State Attorney General Phil Weiser handily defeated US Senator Michael Bennett to clinch the nomination for governor.

[Phil Weiser]

For over a year, the establishment pundits and so many others said this wouldn't be a race at all. It would be a coronation. They counted us out and they underestimated all of you. Tonight. Colorado, you chose fresh, energetic and bold leadership that starts by asking, how can I help? How can I help to make health care, childcare and housing more affordable? How can I help to protect our land, air and our water? And how can we invest in our economy and jobs, jobs with infrastructure that supports inclusive growth. In Colorado in the face of a lawless, bullying Trump administration trying to intimidate us, rip away our rights and freedoms? You made it clear that we need a leader who will fight back and never bend the knee. From every corner of Colorado, you made it clear that when we show up, when we listen to one another and we work together, we can win and make life better for all of us.

[Ryan Warner]

Phil Weiser speaking at his watch party turned victory party election night. We've assembled a crack team of analysts for the hour, left, right and center. Alton Dillard is an unaffiliated communications. He used to be comms manager for Denver's clerk and recorder. He has recently worked on campaigns against declassifying marijuana nationally. Welcome back to the program. Alton.

[Alton Dillard]

Good to see you. Ryan, how you been, man?

[Ryan Warner]

I've been well. I've slept better on other days. Bianca Emerson is a Democratic political strategist and president of Colorado Black Women for Political Action. Hello, Bianca.

[Bianca Emerson]

Good morning, Ryan. Good morning, Ryan. How are you?

[Ryan Warner]

I'm good. Thanks for that. Second Louder. Good morning. And Krista Kafer, weekly opinion columnist for the Denver Post. While she is firmly in the Never Trump camp, she remains a registered Republican. Hello, Krista.

[Krista Kafer]

Good morning.

[Ryan Warner]

Nice to see you all. Bianca, is there Any way in which Phil Weiser, who is really in accord with Michael Bennett on many issues in this race, can be seen as the anti establishment candidate. I mean, he's the state's attorney general for goodness sake.

[Bianca Emerson]

Yeah, most definitely. Because I think over the last couple of years we've a couple of weeks we saw all the commercials, right? And so all the commercials were definitely separating him from Bennett and Bennett being with the Trump selecting Trump appointees, appointing them, voting them in, in Washington D.C. and so I think they did a really good job of trying to separate the two. And so now Phil is coming off as the, you know what, we want him closer to home. He's leaning a little more left in some of the people's eyes and voters eyes. And I think he really did a good job of doing that. So he's showing up as a, you know, he's not one of them. He's new.

[Ryan Warner]

You buy this anti establishment profile that he's casting?

[Bianca Emerson]

I do. And I think he did a really good job of promoting that.

[Ryan Warner]

Krista Kafer, is Barbara Kirkmeyer a stronger candidate for governor than either Walker Stapleton or Heidi Ganal, whom Jared polis defeated in 18 and 22?

[Krista Kafer]

I believe so. She's sharp, she's smart, she, she, you know, she's got the experience. She's, she's a mainstream Republican. She doesn't say wackadoodle things.

[Ryan Warner]

She did want to separate from the state of Colorado at one point.

[Krista Kafer]

You know, I think that Weld county was frustrated and that was sort of giving voice to that frustration. So, you know, why hold that against her? I think it did at the time put rural Colorado back on the map. For a lot of politicians to say these people are unhappy, how can we have a little more parity? How can we consider their needs along with the Front Range?

[Ryan Warner]

Did you expect her to do better against Victor Marx?

[Krista Kafer]

You know, I just didn't know. I mean, we had the most interesting man in the world, right. And the conspiracy theorists, the self proclaimed

[Ryan Warner]

most interesting man in the world. It's one thing when you're deemed that by others.

[Krista Kafer]

Yeah, he is. He's good at self proclaiming that. And I mean, I think we got to give credit to Bottoms. He did take Sedgwick county, the only place, the only place in which he did not come out on bottom and he, yeah, between the two of them we have the conspiracy theorist with his pedophile rings. Then we have this other person who knows nothing about governing, who's been, I guess, distributing stuffed animals around the world. And then we have a real lawmaker who has smart ideas, who represents the face of Republicans. Win or lose, she will be out there with a good message, a good alternative. I would love to see a wiser Kirk Meyer debate which is going to be all about policy. It's not going to be about anything crazy or weird. It's going to be basically the kind of nerdy debate a nerd like me appreciates.

[Alton Dillard]

Yes.

[Ryan Warner]

In which a nerd like me would love to host, by the way. Just planting the seed, everyone. You mentioned Sedgwick county, the county seat being Julesburg. All right, Alton Dillard, is this Phil Wiser's race to lose?

[Alton Dillard]

Definitely. Because one of the things that people have to understand, the Republican Party is so far off its mooring right now that essentially whoever won last night runs a really good chance of being in office for the next eight years. And that's not a partisan comment, it's just fact. Last time checked, what, like four grand in the bank or something for the state party? Something like that. And so as Colorado continues to trend a little further to the left and trends a little younger in its political thinking, to your question that you asked, Bianca, I would have to agree that Weiser really did sort of break out of that establishment mode. And you know, where he really broke out was the charisma gap because there's a lot of people who say that, you know, making politics interesting is what's put the country on its current trajectory and we need to make politics boring again. And it's like I got just the race for you, those two. But Wiser really started showing some fire coming down the stretch.

[Ryan Warner]

I am looking at Denver specific votes, Bianca, in the Bennett Weiser race. Weiser absolutely trounced Bennett in the city and county, 66% to 34. That means Weiser outperformed Kyros in their own backyard. What do you make of this enormous support in Denver for Weiser?

[Bianca Emerson]

You know, it's interesting. I was talking to my cousin who voted for the first time two days ago, and I was getting a little emotional and I asked him, I said, how did you vote? He said, I voted all progressive. He said, because I wanted people that represented me, I need people that look like me. Then his mother says, I look to him to tell me how to vote. So you see a younger, more progressive leaning voter base in Denver and that's who they're supporting. They want to support people that even if they don't say they're socialist or progressive, but maybe their politics, their ideas and how they come off shows progression.

[Ryan Warner]

Barbara Kirkmeyer seems to think Denver's gone off the rails.

[Krista Kafer]

Krista Kafer, you know, I don't think it's gone off the rails. Is it a little more left leaning than it used to be? Probably what I think happened here is we have a young woman,

[Phil Weiser]

the whole

[Krista Kafer]

idea of, you know, a democratic socialist. Are these really socialists or are they simply reacting to the crony capitalism, the great inequities that we're seeing, you know, big companies coming in and saying we want a tax break as though some billion billionaire can't afford it. I think it's partially a reaction to that. I don't think these people are communists. I think they're reacting. And secondly, I think there's a little bit of a misunderstanding about what goes on in the halls of Congress. It's not like in the movies. I used to be a congressional staffer. It's boring. It's, you know, you're putting bills in the hopper. It's, it's sitting through committee hearings. It's not the kind of, you know, let's get out there and take the fight to the man. It's just inglorious hard work.

[Ryan Warner]

Although voters seem to crave some of that, perhaps in choosing Kyros over DeGette. Let's take a break. We'll be back to take a closer look indeed at Kyros upset in Denver, in Glendale. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News. It's Colorado Matters from CPR News. I'm ryan Warner. A 29 year incumbent unseated by a 29 year old political newcomer. Democratic socialist Meilat Kiras defeated Diana deget in Colorado's 1st congressional district. Here's some of Kiros's victory speech Tuesday night.

[Mehlat Kiros]

Denver voters of all ages, of all races, of all religions sends a clear message. We will not wait. We will not wait to take the fight to Donald Trump and the oligarchy. We will not wait. We will not wait to abolish ICE and pass Medicare for all. We will not wait to put an end to the politics of the past, to get big money out of our politics politics and to reject corporate PACs at AIPAC. We are days away from embarking on the 250th anniversary of the founding of this country. I've been thinking a lot about what that means. The promise is made, the promise is unfulfilled, that this country belongs to everyone who loves it and what it stands for, not just the people born here, not just the people who look a certain way, but everyone who believes that democracy is worth defending and that every person is deserving of dignity. I'm about the same age that my dad was when he came to this country betting on the promise. He chose Denver to be our home because he knew that this city would welcome us. And that same city just voted to send a 29 year old recovering lawyer, barista immigrants, Democrats, Democratic Socialistic Congress. Denver, Denver, the future is being written right now. Nothing, nothing is set in stone. We won tonight, but this is about something so much bigger than this moment, than one moment. This is a movement.

[Ryan Warner]

A portion of Mehlat Karras victory speech Tuesday night with an electronic horn there. We did not add that that was on site. She defeated 15 term incumbent Diana Degat. Kyros must still win the general election against Republican Christy Peterson. But considering CD1 is the state's bluest district, Kiros is pretty much a shoo in the General election is November 3rd. That's 125 days from now. And why don't we bring back our experts? Bianca, I am curious what you see as the relationship between the mainline Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America to which Mehlat Kiros said is is attached.

[Bianca Emerson]

Well, I'll be honest with you, I don't think at the base there's too much of a difference. I think we're all talking really the same, the same thing. But how we go about it may be a little different. I think we all want affordable housing, everyone wants affordable health care, everyone's safety on the streets, everyone is concerned about ice. I don't care if you're on the left or the right, but I think everyone is at the very base. There isn't too much of a difference. But some, I think when as Krista was saying, some people think the socialist concept is a little more radical and it's really not. It's just that how do we get to this? And people are tired of waiting. They're tired. That's why we see so many people showing up and supporting people like Millette and Phil because they're tired of waiting for change.

[Ryan Warner]

I'm thinking of the equal and opposite reaction law. You know, Newton's third law of motion, Alton, is the Kiros win an equal and opposite reaction to Trump's reelection.

[Alton Dillard]

I could sort of see it that way for a couple of reasons because as you know, politics is a pendulum. And so it swung sort of not only just right, but it kind of swung crazy. But keep in mind, remember Trump did not run as some kind of darling of the gop. He ran as the drain, the swamp outsider. And that's what really resonated with the voters. Now, in the case of Kiros, it was interesting hearing what Bianca had to say because everything that she just described used to be the difference between Democrats and Republicans. It was what was the role of government in bringing about the ends that you just described. But now that's become more of an intramural intra party discussion. And so I think as a combination of that. And then the other thing was maybe a month or so ago there was a Marist poll that came out that said 80% of voters, regardless of their party affiliation, believe in term and age limits. I'm getting ready to turn 63 and I'm getting ready to have my fourth ever congressperson in my entire life.

[Ryan Warner]

Yeah, that is some perspective there. Are you surprised by the results in City one?

[Alton Dillard]

Not by the results, but by the margin. You know, I was figuring that we were going to at least be looking through the 8:30 ballot dump, if not the 10pm ballot dump. But when those numbers came in showing Kiros up in the votes that had come in before election day, which have a tendency to skew older because communities of color and younger voters wait closer to election day and vote on that Monday and Tuesday. So when Kiros was up in that first dump, I was like, this is a wrap.

[Ryan Warner]

This is a wrap. And she's up 9.7, almost 10 percentage points. You know, in recent days, Denver's Jewish community has sounded the alarm over Kiros. I'm just going to quote the liberal rabbi Rachel Cobran in the Denver Post. What has shaken me over the last two years is not criticism of Israel. It is how noble critiques of Israeli policy have swiftly turned into radicalized calls for Israel's elimination, a sentiment we never apply to other nations. That is why the rabbi writes, I have found myself deeply troubled by the campaign of congressional candidate Mehlot Quiros. Christa Kafer, any thoughts to add about perhaps the role that the war in Gaza has played in this race versus the kitchen table affordability issues, or perhaps those stand side by side?

[Krista Kafer]

You know, I think people are frustrated mostly on the left, little on the right. I know I am 73,000 people died in Gaza. And that, you know, that does in no way diminish the fact that the war was started by hamas. They murdered 1200 people. It was awful. But that response, that 73,000 deaths of women and children, Gaza is reduced to rubble and now we're back in kind of a war which involves Lebanon, Iran, Israel, there's a lot of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. And so I think people are frustrated by that. What they need to recognize, though, is that you can criticize Israeli policy, you can criticize the sort of, you know, big Z Zionism that wants to expand Israel beyond its current borders, but you should never cross that line to belittle Jewish people in general. And I think maintaining that line is hard for people. I think about in World War II, for example, criticizing the Japanese regime, completely understandable after Pearl Harbor. But then that criticism ends up turned on to Japanese Americans. And we see the tragedy of those internment facilities and loss of property, loss of dignity, in some cases loss of life. So if I were to just and she did clarify some remarks in an interview I saw, I don't know if it was last night or this morning about upholding the dignity and sanctity of life of all people. And I hope that she continues along that line and does not give in to the more extreme rhetoric which could belittle and even put lives at risk for Jewish Americans.

[Ryan Warner]

That's Krista Kafer, weekly opinion columnist for the Denver Post, and she is one of three panelists this hour as we review primary results. Bianca Emerson also joins us, Democratic political strategist and Alton Dillard, unaffiliated communications consultant. We'll be back with some voter voices. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News News. You're back with Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Ryan Warner. Many races called, most of them, in fact, but the counting continues in the primary election results in real [e-mail] on election day, we spoke with voters across the state about what's driving their decisions.

[Phil Weiser]

I mean, I think people are like pissed off about the cost of living

[Ryan Warner]

and like Democrats, not really doing a

[Ben Marcus]

whole lot of bad.

[Phil Weiser]

Well, I'm really interested in seeing a

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

change from the old guard to bring

[Alton Dillard]

in some fresh new ideas and have

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

candidates that are representing the interests of the community that they're going to be representing if they get elected.

[Krista Kafer]

The mainstream party I'm kind of giving up on, to be quite honest. I am really looking for more progressive

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

ideas within the Democratic Party and stepping

[Krista Kafer]

away from the the more central because that's not working, I don't think.

[Ryan Warner]

I'm tired of the lifetime politicians and

[Alton Dillard]

never, never anything changes with those people.

[Ryan Warner]

I also feel like I very, very feel like the old guard needs to go away and we need younger people in charge.

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

I've decided I will never vote for anybody.

[Ryan Warner]

That's over 60 years of age. I think the younger people care more about the planet. I think they care more about the democracy that we live in. I also think that they are more

[Barbara Kirkmeyer]

have more energy to make the changes necessary.

[Ryan Warner]

That was in order. Unaffiliated voter Rob Greer. Democratic voters Tom Aaker and Leah Robertson, Republican voters A. Nelson and Democratic voter Cindy Robertson. Voter turnout topped 30% in the primary election. More than 1.2 million ballots cast. That's higher than the last two primaries in Colorado. Let's return to our panel of political watchers as we review the results of this important primary in Colorado. You know what, gang? I think I'm gonna start a new party live on air this morning, which is the Affordability Party. The reason I say that is it is the theme that has perfused. Is that a word profused my conversations with Democrats, Republicans suffused and unaffiliated. Barbara Kirkmaier said it and Milad Kiros has said it. This affordability idea, Alton Dillard, speak to it.

[Alton Dillard]

Yeah, because the unfortunate.

[Ryan Warner]

Are you joining my party?

[Alton Dillard]

Of course I'm joining the party. You're talking about someone who paid $300,000 to live across from a pawn shop and like a, you know, a head shop. So, yeah, affordability is definitely a thing. But that's one of the things that I also am watching on the Democratic side of the aisle. And I'm, you know, I'm one of those people that says don't hate the player, hate the game. But the standard bearers of the Democratic Party are independently wealthy white men. That's not a pejorative. That is a statistical fact. And so I think having somebody like Akiros who has the, you know, recovering lawyer thing and the barista thing, and it really drives it home. Denver is at risk of becoming a San Francisco, a boutique city where no one can afford to live. And so as you see, that's one of the kitchen tables items that I think really sort of people in both parties can agree about. But again, it's like, what's the role of government in bringing it about and what is the role of the private sector in bringing affordability about?

[Ryan Warner]

Well, and to what extent are Democrats in this state who've had a troika, a triumvirate responsible for that or are they the ones to solve it?

[Krista Kafer]

CHRISTA kafer I think they're partly responsible. I mean, they've foisted more fees on taxpayers than any other. I mean, over the last 20 years, it's fee after fee after fee. Now they're Prevented from just outright raising taxes thanks to tabor. But I think there is a disconnect between what they want, which is affordability, everybody wants that, and what they're actually doing. I blame both parties at the national level. I mean, between Biden threw a lot of money into, into the country with all of these grants during COVID the Inflation Reduction act and inflation, it actually causes inflation. When you print up a bunch of money and throw it in to the economy and then you get Trump with all of his reckless spending and these stupid tariffs. It seems to me that there's almost like a conspiracy among politicians to make life less affordable. Whether it's fees, tariffs, unneeded regulations, all kinds of things are simply boosting up the price of every single good. You can't go to the grocery store without spending $100.

[Ryan Warner]

Fascinating to see, by the way, the news around price fixing in eggs, which was such a huge issue before the last presidential election. Bianca, are you joining my affordability party? Is that what's going to unite America?

[Bianca Emerson]

Yes. I'm voting for you.

[Ryan Warner]

Okay. What do you make of the affordability issue and perhaps how it shaped the results?

[Bianca Emerson]

Yeah, I think we have to keep in mind that Colorado is the third most expensive place to live in the country. And I think again, of course, I keep going back to my little cousin who voted for the first time and he said, I want to have people that look like me are closer to me in age. And I think of him voting for Milat and how Diane Degetta has been there for 30 years and under her watch, this place has become unaffordable to live. So these, these new, this new younger professional group who are supporting progressive candidates, they want to be able to buy a house soon. They want to start a family. They have student loans they have to pay. So they want to be able to live in a decent society, in a distance, in a decent state and not be burdened down with just the cost of basic ideas in living in society.

[Ryan Warner]

A question about the Senate primary. Why didn't the progressive sweep that seemed to come from the east coast west and that has catapulted Phil Weiser and Maillard Quiros, why didn't it touch Senadora Julie Gonzalez in the race against John Hickenlooper, Alton Dillard?

[Alton Dillard]

Hickenlooper has just always had that magic touch. Now, keep in mind he's heading into his, like 25th or 26th year as an elected official official and would be 80 at the end of this term. But there is just something about that, folksy way that he relates to people and that every man, every personness about him. One of my favorite Hickenlooper quotes ever, and I'm gonna paraphrase here, was when someone described Hickenlooper on a mic like watching a baby on a freeway. You just never knew what you were going to get with him. And so the other thing is, I think, I think Senator Gonzalez ran a good strong race. And actually I called her finishing within what I call the margin of viability. If you take a loss and you take like a Heidi Ganal l where you get drilled by 20 something points, that's one kind of loss. But I could really see her ascending to higher office one day.

[Ryan Warner]

I'm looking at the spread there. Do you know what the spread was?

[Alton Dillard]

Yes.

[Ryan Warner]

Let's see. I'm clicking.

[Alton Dillard]

Yes.

[Ryan Warner]

You know, it's interesting because John Hickenlooper plainly did not engage in debates. He did not agree to an interview with this program was maybe the safest route. You know, this was true for Jenna Griswold in the attorney General's race. To a certain extent it was true for Marx. This idea of you don't have to play the game. You can stand by and do fairly well. Do you think that's all true? Yeah. Okay, remember, it's radio. So Julie Gonzalez, 45 percentage points to 55.1. So 10 points breadth, essentially.

[Alton Dillard]

And yeah. And to me, again, that's that margin of viability.

[Ryan Warner]

Well, I'm gonna let you find your words. Let's take a quick break and we'll be back with our analysts Alton Dillard, Bianca Emerson and Krista Kafer. It's Colorado Matters from CPR News. You're with Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Ryan Warner. We are taking stock of this week's primary on both the Democratic and Republican sides. And my guests are Alton Dillard, unaffiliated communications consultant Bianca Emerson, Democratic political strategist and Krista Kafer, weekly opinion columnist for the Denver Post, who is Republican. And I think we really ought to focus on Colorado's most competitive congressional district, also its most Latino at 40% representation. I'm speaking also of its newest district. That's CD8. After two years of Democrat Yadira Caravello, followed by two years of Republican gave Evans, we're looking at a third go round in the 8th congressional district. Evans, the incumbent, will face Manny Rutinel, a state representative and progressive. Alton, is this the type of district that both parties now wish they could emergency gerrymander?

[Alton Dillard]

That's exactly. It is a true swing district. So one of the things I really found interesting in that race is how Rootnell really tied Byrd to the that pro Trump, pro ice vote and hammered that message in every ad. The ads were effective, blue, blue, blue, blue, blue. And then there's that one red square that constituted her vote on that. Now one thing that is going to have to happen because his debate performance was a little eh. And then his answers where he started refusing to answer exactly where he was on single payer, I think is something he's going to have to tighten up. One thing in politics, as brother Jeff likes to say, you have to be 10 toes in. This is where I stand and you have a choice of voting for me or not. But if you try to play it down the dead middle at every chance, all that does is get you beat up on both sides.

[Ryan Warner]

Except the district in some ways is designed for that, right?

[Alton Dillard]

It is.

[Ryan Warner]

I mean, okay, is it designed for equivocating? Is that what, is that what a competitive district looks like?

[Alton Dillard]

I am hoping not. I am hoping that, you know, we talked about the pendulum and so I think it's going to be a big race because as you mentioned, it's going to go a long way towards determining the direction of Congress.

[Ryan Warner]

That's exactly right. And who controls the House. Krista Kafer, this is a toss up in your mind?

[Krista Kafer]

No, I think Gabe Evans last night just went ah, when Rootnall got the won it. Shannon Bird is a much stronger candidate. She's got more experience, she's more moderate. I think that would have been a very competitive race phrase Evans versus Bird. Now he's going up. Evans will be going up against somebody who's has less experience, has said some pretty radical things, saying some things about agriculture, for example. Animal husbandry is some kind of a savage despicable, you know, practice. And he's tried to walk those back saying, well, I'm no longer a vegan. I don't think that's the fit for the district. I think he's too far left.

[Alton Dillard]

Left.

[Krista Kafer]

He would be a great fit for Boulder, Denver. But that same impetus to move left, try to capture more voters and capture that enthusiasm, it may have put Kyros in, but it's also going to ensure that Evans wins come November.

[Ryan Warner]

It's fascinating to me how much diet plays into elections. So this was the Republican National Committee statement when Rootnell won last night. The inmates are running the asylum in the Colorado Democrat Party and Manny Rootnell is the face of the radical socialist takeover voters will reject this lifelong vegan and green New Deal activist. This idea. Bianca Emerson, of, you know, vegan versus omnivore versus Carnivore. What do you make of the race now in the 8th congressional district?

[Bianca Emerson]

Well, I was just reading about the Colorado Republican Party is saying Millette is a gift for CD8 because they're going to try everything they can to pair the two. So they're going to put them both in the same pot and they're going to of course paint a picture that they're horrible, they're not good for the state. But we never know because we see the trend in this country that they are going a little more left. So I am actually fingers crossed for CD8. I know, I know, Krista, that's your side. But I don't know, I think it's something for us to watch.

[Ryan Warner]

If the Republicans tie routinel to Kyros, I suppose the question is, do you tie Evans to Trump? I mean these are sort of competing forces to some extent.

[Krista Kafer]

Yeah, I mean I think you definitely that's gonna. He suffers because Trump is in office. And of course if Victor Martin Marx somehow pulls out a win, every Democrat will tie whatever Republican opponent not only to Trump but also to Marx. And it's going to hurt a lot of down ticket races.

[Ryan Warner]

Yeah, that's fascinating because in some ways what Bianca is talking about is a cross ticket race and you're talking about up versus down ballot and the effect that the top of the ticket has. What in the last minute or so have I not let you see Alton, as our unaffiliated analyst in a state now with more than 2 million unaffiliated voters.

[Alton Dillard]

And this is the chance now that now we've moved past this semi closed primary, unaffiliated get to take off that unaffiliated hat. We vote one ballot come November. So if there's a Republican that hops out on us on an issue here and a Democrat that hops on us issue here, now we're able to go back and forth in either column. We're boxed out of that process in the current primary setup because we can only choose the Democrat or Republican ballot. So to me, I think that changes some of the calculus heading into November.

[Ryan Warner]

Will you say just a few words before we go about the role of money? Because this election also shows us that money doesn't equal victory. Do you think that was underscored here?

[Alton Dillard]

It was definitely underscored there. But also just keep an eye out again, there's the new Supreme Court decision. That's going to infuse even more money into it. But I think that's also going to be part of the trend. Money's been a part of politics since even before McCain Feingold. So keep an eye on that.

[Ryan Warner]

We're talking about the Supreme Court ruling that had to do with party spending and coordination.

[Alton Dillard]

Yes.

[Ryan Warner]

I am grateful to all three of you for your time. This is Alton Dillard, Bianca Emerson and Krista Kafer. Coverage continues throughout the day right here on CPR News and KRCC and [e-mail] I'm Ryan Warner. Thanks for spending time with us. And we'll talk to you as the general nears.