Victor Marx Wins Colorado GOP Nomination for Governor, Defeating Barb Kirkmeyer

Marine Corps veteran Victor Marx claimed victory in Colorado’s Republican nomination race for governor as final votes were tallied on July 9, holding a slight lead over state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer in unofficial tallies completed as of about 5:10 p.m.

“Marine veteran Victor Marx, whose wild claims – including saying he was forced to kill a man at age 7 – have drawn widespread attention and significant skepticism, will win the Republican nomination for governor in Colorado, CNN’s Decision Desk projects”

CNN

Marx’s win was projected by the Associated Press more than a week after the June 30 primary, with the AP projecting he defeated Kirkmeyer by at least 2,142 votes and that he would face Democrat Phil Weiser in November.

CNN

The Coloradoan reported that Marx had 208,087 votes and a 2,515-vote lead as of the July 9 afternoon vote release, a gap too large for an automatic recount under Colorado law.

The Denver Post said the AP called the race for Marx late Thursday afternoon, nearly nine days after polls closed, with Marx leading Kirkmeyer 39.9% to 39.4% with 99% of ballots counted and about 522,000 ballots cast.

In a social media post, Marx said, “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.”

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser quickly attacked Marx as the Republican nominee, saying, “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.”

The Denver Post reported that Kirkmeyer said she was proud of the race and wrote that she hoped voters “choose the path that is best for Colorado” in November, while also noting, “for the record, I still haven’t killed anyone.”

Denver7

CNN described Marx as a self-described “high-risk humanitarian” whose wild claims—including saying he was forced to kill a man at age 7—drew widespread attention and significant skepticism, and it quoted Marx pausing before responding, “Well, I would say, as a child, yes.”

CNN also reported that Marx faced criticism from GOP opponents at a debate, including state Rep. Scott Bottoms saying, “I also said he was corrupt and I also said he lies and he lied to me personally quite a few times, and so I stand by that.”

The Colorado Sun said Kirkmeyer and Bottoms had said they wouldn’t support Marx in the general election if he won the primary, and it described Marx’s campaign as focused more on personality than policy.

Marx’s nomination sets up a November contest against Phil Weiser, with CNN saying Marx will succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis and that Colorado has not elected a Republican governor in more than two decades.

“Victor Marx, the unconventional, first-time candidate running to be Colorado’s next governor, won the three-way GOP primary on Thursday — more than a week after polls closed — edging out state Sen”

The Colorado Sun

The Coloradoan said the winner of the Nov. 3 general election will succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis, and it described how closeness of the race increased the importance of military and overseas ballots accepted through July 8 and ballot cures for unsigned or mismatched signatures until July 8.

The Denver Post reported that outstanding deficient and overseas ballots helped delay a final call and expand Marx’s margin, and it said Marx led by 2,515 votes Thursday afternoon with about 522,000 ballots cast.

CNN said Marx’s campaign included claims about rescuing women and children, and it reported that when asked if he thought he had killed people as an adult, Marx asked, “Does it matter?”

With the primary settled, the Colorado Sun said the state’s next governor will replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis early next year, while The Coloradoan noted Democrats have won all but two elections for the office since 1974.