Phil Weiser Wins Colorado Governor’s Race, Defeating Republican Victor Marx

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Jewish Democrat who has emerged as one of the country’s most prominent state-level opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration, has been elected governor of Colorado, defeating Republican Victor Marx and extending Democratic control of the governor’s office for another four years.

The Associated Press declared Weiser the winner Tuesday evening, shortly after polls closed in Colorado, as early returns showed him holding a commanding advantage over his Republican opponent.

Weiser, 58, will succeed Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who is leaving office after serving the maximum two consecutive four-year terms. His victory means Colorado will have been governed by Democrats for at least 20 consecutive years, continuing a political shift that has transformed the state from a competitive battleground into a Democratic stronghold.

The election is particularly noteworthy because Weiser, who has served as Colorado’s attorney general since 2019, has been outspoken about his Jewish identity and has frequently discussed the influence of his family’s history on his understanding of public service, religious freedom, and the importance of protecting democratic institutions.

Weiser is the grandson of Holocaust survivors, and his family’s experiences have played a significant role in shaping his political outlook. Throughout his career, he has spoken about the responsibility of government officials to protect civil rights and defend vulnerable communities.

His election follows eight years under Polis, who is also Jewish, meaning Colorado will continue to have a Jewish governor when Weiser takes office in January.

Weiser entered the gubernatorial race with considerable statewide name recognition after winning two elections as attorney general. During his tenure, he became known for pursuing consumer protection cases, challenging corporate practices, and filing numerous lawsuits against the federal government.

He has been particularly aggressive in challenging Trump administration policies, participating in nearly 100 legal actions involving federal funding, immigration, environmental regulations, and other issues.

Those legal battles became a central feature of his gubernatorial campaign, with Weiser portraying himself as a defender of Colorado’s interests against what he described as federal overreach.

At the same time, he emphasized economic concerns, promising to address the state’s high cost of living, housing shortages, and financial pressures facing working families.

Among his campaign proposals was a plan to facilitate the construction of 40,000 additional affordable homes, an initiative he argued would help teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other workers remain in the communities where they are employed.

Weiser also advocated changes to Colorado’s labor laws and pledged to continue efforts to protect consumers from unfair business practices.

His Republican opponent, Victor Marx, entered the race as a political newcomer with a background in the U.S. Marine Corps and religious outreach work. Marx founded All Things Possible Ministries, a Colorado Springs-based organization involved in humanitarian activities.

Marx campaigned as a conservative outsider who would challenge the Democratic establishment in Denver, arguing that years of one-party control had contributed to rising costs, government inefficiency, and declining accountability.

However, his campaign struggled to gain traction against Weiser, who entered the general election with a substantial financial advantage and broader statewide political experience.

Marx also faced controversy over claims he had made about his personal history and humanitarian activities, drawing scrutiny from Colorado news organizations.

The contest was widely viewed as favoring Democrats, particularly after Weiser defeated U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary in June.

That primary victory was itself a significant political development, demonstrating Weiser’s ability to defeat a nationally prominent Democratic incumbent in a statewide contest.

Before becoming attorney general, Weiser served as dean of the University of Colorado Law School and held positions in the administration of President Barack Obama. Earlier in his legal career, he clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.