2022 Colorado gubernatorial election

The 2022 Colorado gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is eligible to seek reelection to a second term. The primary election will be held in June.^[1]

Polis won election to the governorship in the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election by a double-digit margin when he defeated State Treasurer Walker Stapleton of the Republican Party.^[2]^[3] Polis's victory marked the fourth straight election in which Colorado elected a Democratic governor. The victory of Jared Polis marked the first time in American electoral history that an openly gay politician was elected governor of a state.

Democratic primary[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

Jared Polis, incumbent Governor (2019–present)^[4]^[5]^[6]
- Running mate: Dianne Primavera, incumbent lieutenant governor^[7]
Dustin Rorex^[8]

Democratic candidates^[a]

Incumbent
Jared Polis
from
Boulder

^[9]

Republican primary[]

Candidates[]

Declared[]

Laurie Clark,^[10]
Jeffrey Fry^[10]
Heidi Ganahl, member of the Regents of the University of Colorado (2017–present)^[11]
Jon Gray-Ginsberg^[10]
Benjamin Huseman, former mayor of Commerce City (2019–2020) and U.S. Air Force veteran^[10]
Greg Lopez, former mayor of Parker (1992–1996), candidate for governor in 2018, Candidate for U.S. Senate in 2016, and Former Director of the Small Business Administration for Colorado^[10]^[12]
Danielle Neuschwanger, realtor^[10]
Jim Rundberg, U.S. Army veteran, Independent candidate for governor in 2014, and Republican candidate for president in 2016^[10]^[13]
Christopher Tackett^[8]
Destinee Workman^[10]

Republican candidates^[a]

Regent of the University of Colorado
Heidi Ganahl
from
Greenwood Village
Former Colorado SBA director
Greg Lopez
from
Elizabeth

^[14]^[15]

Potential[]

Bob Beauprez, former U.S. Representative from Colorado's 7th congressional district (2003–2007) and nominee for governor in 2006 and 2014^[16]
George Brauchler, Arapahoe County district attorney and candidate for Attorney General in 2018^[17]
Cory Gardner, former U.S. Senator (2015–2021)^[18]^[16]
Kevin Priola, state senator for the 25th district (2017–present)^[16]

Declined[]

Ken Buck, U.S. Representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2015–present) and former chair of the Colorado Republican Party (2019–2021)^[19]
Bill Owens, former Governor of Colorado (1999–2007)^[20]
Guy Benson, political pundit, Fox News contributor, and political editor of Townhall.com ^[21]

General election[]

Predictions[]

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report^[22]	Solid D	October 5, 2021
Inside Elections^[23]	Solid D	September 29, 2021
Sabato's Crystal Ball^[24]	Likely D	September 15, 2021

Polling[]

Hypothetical polling

Jared Polis vs. Heidi Ganahl

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[b]	Margin of error	Jared Polis (D)	Heidi Ganahl (R)	Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)^[A]	October 19–24, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	52%	35%	13%
Global Strategy Group (D)^[A]	June 17–23, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	54%	34%	12%

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)^[A]	June 17–23, 2021	800 (RV)	± 3.5%	49%	39%	12%

Notes[]

^ ^a ^b The images in this gallery are in the public domain or are otherwise free to use. This gallery should not be construed as a list of major or noteworthy candidates. If a candidate is not included in this gallery, it is only because there are no high-quality, copyright-free photographs of them available on the Internet.
^ ^a ^b Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

Partisan clients

^ ^a ^b ^c This poll was sponsored by ProgressNow Colorado

References[]

^ "Primary Election FAQs". Colorado Secretary of State. State of Colorado. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^ John Foley (June 26, 2018). "Jared Polis, Walker Stapleton face off in a Colorado governor's race that became testy from the start" (PDF). The Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
^ "Colorado Governor Election Results 2018". Politico. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
^ "TRACER - Candidate Detail".
^ "Jared Polis".
^ https://polisforcolorado.com/
^ https://polisforcolorado.com/
^ ^a ^b Schmidt, Madeleine (August 11, 2021). "Here's Who's Running to Unseat Jared Polis in Colorado's 2022 Gov Race". Colorado Times Recorder. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
^ https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?SeqID=50103
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ashby, Charles (July 17, 2021). "Candidates starting to line up in governor's race". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (published May 9, 2021). Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
^ Miller, Faith. "Republican CU Regent Heidi Ganahl launches campaign for Colorado governor". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
^ Bartolo, James (August 16, 2021). "Colorado governor candidate Greg Lopez and Rep. Stephanie Luck to speak in Swink". La Junta Tribune-Democrat. Gannett. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
^ "Jim Rundberg".
^ https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?Type=CA&SeqID=51661
^ https://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?SeqID=44661
^ ^a ^b ^c "The Big Line: 2022".
^ Bunch, Joey. "INSIGHTS | Polis takes a shot at defeating himself next year". Colorado Politics.
^ "Does Cory Gardner have a future in politics now that he's lost his U.S. Senate seat?". The Colorado Sun. November 4, 2020.
^ "Colorado's Ken Buck makes it official — he wants another term in Congress".
^ "Colorado's only Republican governor elected within last 50 years says presidential race is over". KUSA.com. November 24, 2020.
^ {{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/1473099704871395330?s=20
^ "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
^ "2022 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 11, 2021.

External links[]

Official campaign websites

[disclaimer-9] The images in this gallery are in the public domain or are otherwise free to use. This gallery should not be construed as a list of major or noteworthy candidates. If a candidate is not included in this gallery, it is only because there are no high-quality, copyright-free photographs of them available on the Internet.

[Key-26] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[PNCO-27] This poll was sponsored by ProgressNow Colorado

[1] "Primary Election FAQs". Colorado Secretary of State. State of Colorado. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

[2] John Foley (June 26, 2018). "Jared Polis, Walker Stapleton face off in a Colorado governor's race that became testy from the start" (PDF). The Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

[3] "Colorado Governor Election Results 2018". Politico. Retrieved January 19, 2020.

[4] "TRACER - Candidate Detail".

[5] "Jared Polis".

[6] ttps://polisforcolorado.com/

[7] ttps://polisforcolorado.com/

[CTR-8] Schmidt, Madeleine (August 11, 2021). "Here's Who's Running to Unseat Jared Polis in Colorado's 2022 Gov Race". Colorado Times Recorder. Retrieved August 23, 2021.

[polis_residence-10] ttps://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?SeqID=50103

[line_up-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ashby, Charles (July 17, 2021). "Candidates starting to line up in governor's race". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (published May 9, 2021). Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

[12] Miller, Faith. "Republican CU Regent Heidi Ganahl launches campaign for Colorado governor". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved September 14, 2021.

[13] Bartolo, James (August 16, 2021). "Colorado governor candidate Greg Lopez and Rep. Stephanie Luck to speak in Swink". La Junta Tribune-Democrat. Gannett. Archived from the original on August 17, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2021.

[14] "Jim Rundberg".

[ganahl_residence-15] ttps://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?Type=CA&SeqID=51661

[lopez_residence-16] ttps://tracer.sos.colorado.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CandidateDetail.aspx?SeqID=44661

[''The_Big_Line''-17] "The Big Line: 2022".

[18] Bunch, Joey. "INSIGHTS | Polis takes a shot at defeating himself next year". Colorado Politics.

[19] "Does Cory Gardner have a future in politics now that he's lost his U.S. Senate seat?". The Colorado Sun. November 4, 2020.

[20] "Colorado's Ken Buck makes it official — he wants another term in Congress".

[21] "Colorado's only Republican governor elected within last 50 years says presidential race is over". KUSA.com. November 24, 2020.

[22] {{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/1473099704871395330?s=20

[Cook_PR-23] "2022 Governor Race Ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 4, 2021.

[Inside_Elections-24] "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

[Sabato's_Crystal_Ball-25] "2022 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved March 11, 2021.

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