Michael Bennet Loses His Bid for Governor

Attorney General Phil Weiser was projected Tuesday to win the Democratic nomination in Colorado’s gubernatorial primary over Sen. Michael Bennet.

It’s a stunning loss for Bennet, who was long considered the front-runner in the race. In the primary, which became about how Democrats will stand up to Trump, he batted back attacks over his confirmation votes for some Trump administration officials.

At his election watch party, Weiser was greeted with cheers and chants of his name as he announced he just got off the phone with Bennet, who offered his congratulations.

“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,” Weiser said to the crowd. “They counted us out, and they underestimated all of you. Together, we pushed forward. We did the hard work, and we proved the establishment wrong.”

NOTUS previously reported that some lawmakers see a “serious anti-Washington sentiment” among voters, something that benefited Weiser and hurt Bennet in the race.

Weiser, who has been attorney general since 2019, ran on his record of suing the Trump administration. He has sued the president 66 times as Colorado’s attorney general.

Democrats have held the state’s governor seat since 2007, so the successor is likely to replace Gov. Jared Polis, who is term-limited.

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Editor’s Note: This story was updated with additional reporting.