11:10 p.m Closing down the blog.
Well, this has been fun. Thanks for sticking with CPR for your primary night news. Be sure to come back to CPR.org for more information and results, and we'll see you again for all the fun in November.
— Alison Borden, CPR team editor
10:57 p.m. Too close to call
State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer is clinging to a slim lead over political newcomer Victor Marx in the GOP gubernatorial primary after an estimated 75 percent of the state’s vote had been tabulated.
As of 10:30 p.m., Kirkmeyer had 41% of the vote, Marx had 39% and state Rep. Scott Bottoms had 20%.
All three candidates began the evening waiting for the first returns from heavily Republican El Paso County, and when they arrived, it looked like they were in for a long night.
— Ben Markus, CPR investigative reporter and Caitlyn Kim, CPR public affairs reporter
10:55 p.m. A 29-year tenure ended by 29-year-old
“I know my constituents. My constituents know me, and I feel pretty good about how things are going,” said 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette two days before the primary.
But apparently she didn’t know them well enough.
DeGette, who has served for 29 years in the House of Representatives, saw her tenure ended by 29-year-old political newcomer Melat Kiros on Tuesday.
It’s a stunning, but not surprising, end to DeGette’s Congressional career as Democratic voters across the country have shown their unhappiness with incumbents and the Democratic Party’s inability to check the Trump administration.
Read the rest of the story here.
— Caitlyn Kim, CPR public affairs reporter
10:47 p.m. The crowd is still dancing
CPR reporters say the Kiros watch party put the emphasis on the party part.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
10:20 p.m. The victory tour has started for Melat Kiros
Kiros and her allies have begun declaring victory over 30-year incumbent Diana DeGette.
Campaign staff have taken the stage to hype up the crowd. They’ve emphasized the campaign’s ground work as instrumental. Meanwhile, Justice Democrats, the progressive political action committee that drove much of Kiros’ funding, congratulated her.
“Melat’s political courage, moral clarity, and commitment to a politics that takes on corporate interests to deliver for working class communities was evident in the earliest stages of her campaign and made it clear she was exactly the type of candidate we had been looking for,” the organization said in a statement.
DeGette is not expected to speak to the public tonight, however, released a short statement on social media shortly before the latest set of results dropped.
“I remain grateful for your support and for the honor of representing this city we love,” she wrote.
Kiros took the stage to rapturous applause. At points, her words were unintelligible over the crowd’s cheers, despite her microphone.
“We will not wait,” she declared, to fight Donald Trump, to end “the politics of the past”, to abolish ICE, to end the genocide in Gaza, to reject corporate PAC money.
"To every single progressive running for office … we are taking back our party," she said.
She acknowledged DeGette, acknowledging her contribution to immigrants and reproductive rights.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
10:11 p.m. Kiros about to take the stage
I've followed a group of voters who switched from Julie Gonzales' party to Melat Kiros', and the energy here is palpable. As the 10:00 p.m. results drop hit, extending Kiros' lead over incumbent Diana DeGette, the crowd cheered and began to chant "Melat, Melat, Melat."
The DJ quickly changed the song to Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)".
As the crowd chanted, the AP called the race for Kiros. She's expected to take the stage in front of a very happy crowd soon.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
10:05 p.m. AP calls it for Melat Kiros
Melat Kiros wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Colorado's 1st Congressional District over 30-year incumbent Diana DeGette.
The two candidates’ parties showed a stark contrast. DeGette’s drew only a handful of supporters to Carboy Winery, where they were at least initially outnumbered by journalists. Some stared at their phones, apparently hoping for something to change. "Wait 'til 8:30," one person said. "Hopeful," said another, with a hint of skepticism. Attendees started leaving shortly after arriving, heading to other parties.
Kiros’ party attracted more than 100 guests for early returns, many decked out in gear for Kiros or the Democratic Socialists of America. The crowd began chanting “Melat” and confetti drifted through the air as the early results were displayed on TVs.
— Kiara DeMare, Denverite
10:02 p.m. Barbara Kirkmeyer speaks to her supporters
Barbara Kirkmeyer addressed her supporters telling them she is optimistic. She says this is not the finish of the race, but the start and she’s looking forward to debating Phil Weiser.
She focused a lot of her comments on issues like the budget, the roads, and taxes. She says after eight years of Democratic run government in Colorado, it's time for a change. She also says she plans to build a coalition across the political spectrum saying she knows there are some center left voters who are concerned about the Democrat’s big swing to the left.
— Caitlyn Kim, CPR public affairs reporter and Orion Cenkl, KRCC intern
9:53 Waiting for more ballots to be counted.
The next drop, which could mean the difference between Melat Kiros and Diana DeGette race as Kiros pulls ahead of DeGette with about 5,000 votes, is expected at 10 p.m.
— Alison Borden, CPR team editor
9:45 p.m.: Phil Weiser’s family shares reactions to his primary win.
Democratic nominee Phil Weiser’s parents, brother and niece were in attendance at his watch party as his victory became clear. His younger brother, Steve, and niece, Lana, came from New York in support.
CPR’s Molly Cruse caught a moment with the Weiser family to get reactions from the result.
“I will tell you this is a big surprise,” said his brother, Steve. “We thought this was going to be a late night and we'd be up late. This is unbelievable that it's going as well as it is.”
Phil’s father, David, shared nerves of not knowing what was going to happen. “Now we're just excited,” he said. “We're really thrilled that all of this hard work, wonderful effort for the whole team, all of Phil's energy and his inside significant ideas. The message has got across and people are voting.”
Steve shared a moment where Phil stopped and talked to a voter's kids. “He literally spent every day the last two years meeting people purposefully listening and trying to figure out what would be best for Colorado. It's really amazing to see that going door to door...that made much more of a difference than $10 million in corporate funds.”
Steve’s daughter Lana shared her father’s praise of Weiser’s campaign, which focused on community engagement. She said she looks up to her uncle, who she’s seen “pounding the pavement, meeting individual people and just having their grassroots support.”
Lana is in college and says she hopes to follow in her family’s footsteps to become a lawyer.
The Weiser brothers went to law school together. Steve said he followed his older brother's example in a lot of things, including debate and law. Steve drew a parallel between how he sees his daughter walking through her Barnard Columbia campus talking and hugging everybody to his brother’s campaigning. ‘I see a little bit of him in her.”
Despite their optimism, the Weiser family was shocked by the early results. “We had so much disbelief because he was such an underdog for so long that you just keep pinching yourself,” said Steve.
“We grew up in a household where nothing was ever given to us,” said Steve. “In fact, my parents, they had an attitude like, you know what… life will teach you the lessons. They didn't tell us what to do, where to do it, when to do it. We went out and had to figure it out…and look what he figured out.
Steve said that his brother is not thinking that he is the next governor yet. “He's going to spend every day until the November election doing the exact same thing he's done for the last two years… meeting every single person he can.”
— Orion Cenkl, KRCC intern, Molly Cruse, CPR reporter
9:26 p.m.: Conceding, Wanda James says “it’s not over.” Kiros still leads
As of 8:35 p.m., Colorado District 1 Democratic candidate Wanda James had about 7% of votes.
Still, she said in a concession email: “it’s not over”. Her campaign “was never just about one election,” she added.
“We proved that a grassroots campaign funded by real people can go toe to toe with thirty years of institutional power,” she wrote.
Meanwhile, the mood at her opponent Melat Kiros’s watch party is still jubilant, with signs, cheering, and a dance party. The race between Kiros and incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette has yet to be called, but the first ballot returns showed Kiros—a democratic socialist–leading.
"From New York to Colorado, socialists and anti-American anarchists have fully taken over the Democrat Party,” said RNC Chairman Joe Gruters in response to Kiros’s lead. “Melat Kiros and Manny Rutinel are the latest proof that there’s no room for moderates in their party."
Given the reaction of republican representatives to Kiros gaining traction, maybe James is right when she says this campaign is about more than election wins.
“We proved that Denver is ready for change,” James wrote. “We proved that this community is alive, engaged, and hungry for real representation.
That doesn’t disappear tonight.”
— Aeva Dye, KRCC intern
9:23 p.m. Praying for the polls
Supporters at Victor Marx watch party were asked by the campaign to pray to help take away some of the anxious energy.
— Ben Markus, CPR investigative reporter
9:15 p.m. Short and sweet victory speech
Amanda Gonzalez gave a short and sweet victory speech tonight at the Town Hall Collaborative. She thanked her campaign workers and spoke to the 2028 presidential election.
“At a time when our fundamental rights are under attack, I promise you that I will continue to defend our election system and make sure that our voices are actually heard,” she said.
— Sandy Battulga, CPR fellow
9:03 p.m. Gonzales calls her campaign a warning shot for establishment Democrats
Julie Gonzales has taken the stage at Denver’s Town Hall Collaborative to concede the race to incumbent John Hickenlooper. Gonzales said regardless of the outcome of her campaign against Hickenlooper, it served as a warning shot towards establishment Democrats.
“John Hickenlooper may have won tonight’s primary," she told her supporters. "But our movement has already won, because Colorado, we are making it clear that the days of do-nothing Democrats are over in this state.”
The Associated Press has call the race for Hickenlooper. He’ll face Republican Mark Baisley in November’s general election.
8:59 p.m. 3rd Congressional District race goes to Romero
Dwayne Romero won the Democratic nomination for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District Tuesday night. For his trouble, Romero must now try and break a nearly 2-decade losing streak for Democrats in the seat that represents Western and Southern Colorado.
"I have so much connected experience in my life that is resonant with so many people in this district. They're going to see someone that they at least find some aspect that they can see themselves in, and that's called electability."
– Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
8:54 p.m. Bird concedes to Rutinel
Shannon Bird conceded to Manny Rutinel in the CD8 Democratic primary. "Not long ago I called Manny and congratulated him on a race well run and let him know he has my full support, and I'm going to urge everyone in this room to please support Manny as well," Bird told a subdued crowd. "The road to the majority runs through Colorado's 8th Congressional District, and we have to win this seat."
Bird supporters in the room said they were extremely disappointed.
“I'm afraid that Manny is going to have trouble against Gabe Evans,” said Bob Grant, of Thornton. “I don't think he's got the chops. I don't think he's got the experience behind him. I'm afraid that the Republican Party is going to put a lot of money in the Gabe Evans race, and I'm not sure that Manny's up to it.”
Other Bird supporters said the results of Tuesday’s primary made them feel “politically homeless” as the Democratic party shifts leftward.
“I think a lot of centrists are asleep at the wheel,” said Jason Smith, of Denver. “I saw a lot of hope with Shannon Byrd and Michael Bennett and other candidates to bring the state together.”
— Rae Solomon, politics and public affairs reporter for CPR
8:44 p.m.: Somber mood as Michael Bennet concedes
In the wake of Phil Weiser’s win in the democratic governor’s race, Senator Michael Bennet has offered his concession speech. Thanking volunteers, supporters, voters, and his family, he said he had no regrets. He saluted the 3 firefighters who recently died battling the Snyder fire, asking for a moment of silence.
To those asking if there’s a place for them in Colorado, Bennet said his answer “will always be yes.”
“Our cause is to make Colorado the best place to make a life,” he said.
– John Daley, CPR health reporter
8:42 p.m. GOP governor’s race: Kirkmeyer leads, Marx hasn’t given up yet
The mood has turned a bit here at the Victor Marx watch party, with State Sen. Kirkmeyer consistently up in early returns.
There’s a lot of grumbling about State Rep. Scott Bottoms, the other GOP candidate seeking the nomination for governor, taking votes from Marx. Both are from Colorado Springs and tried to stake out the religious conservative lane. The Marx campaign believes as more votes are counted that the night will go their way, they say they’re in for the long haul tonight.
— Ben Markus, CPR investigative reporter
8:35 p.m.: Watching the World Cup brings cheers amid primary loss.
The crowd is thinning at the Working Families Party’s election watch-along. Of the three candidates here, only Amanda Gonzalez has won her race. The opponents of David Seligman and Julie Gonzales have declared victory after taking commanding leads in their races.
Many of the stragglers that remain are huddled around a TV watching the World Cup match between Mexico and Ecuador. As Mexico scored the opening goal of the fixture, a small crowd let out a celebratory cheer — some of the only ones heard at this party. Mexico is now winning 2-0.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
8:35 p.m. Kelley Dennison, 27-year-old massage therapist, to face Rep. Joe Neguse
A 27-year-old massage therapist from Larimer County will challenge U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse for his seat in Congress.
The Associated Press declared Kelley Dennison the winner in the Republican Primary Election to represent Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District.
She beat Christina Blunt, a Fort Collins-based hairdresser and small business owner who wanted to bring Elon Musk's DOGE-style cost-cutting efforts to the state level in Colorado.
At 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dennison led Blunt by more than 4,000 votes, winning with nearly 59% of the vote.
– Ava Kian, CPR justice reporter
8:30 p.m. Quickest party in the West
The Hickenlooper party felt like it ended before it really started. That may have had something to do with the relatively quick results that poured in.
During his victory speech, Hickenlooper vowed to keep up the fight against President Trump and predicted a Democratic sweep of Congress during the general election. By 8:20, less than 2 hours after the party started, only a few dozen people remained at the restaurant.
During his victory speech, Hickenlooper got some laughs when he briefly tripped over a microphone wire. "I am not tired!" he said, before adding, "It's been a long couple of weeks." Towards the end of his speech he hugged his young son Jack, who teetered towards the Senator. "He's going to trip just like I did," Hickenlooper said.
– Ishan Thakore, CPR climate reporter
8:25 p.m. Griswold wins four-way primary for attorney general
Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state, held a commanding lead Tuesday night in the four-way Democratic contest to be the party’s nominee for attorney general.
Griswold led her opponents with 46 percent of the vote as Colorado primary voters split support amongst a former federal prosecutor, the executive director of an advocacy law firm and the current Boulder district attorney. Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty trailed her with about 20 percent of the vote.
– Allison Sherry, CPR justice reporter
8:22 p.m. Killin watch party
I'm just made it Kinship Landing Greenhaus, the location of the Jessica Killin watch party.
Before racing over here, Joe Reagan told his supporters that he called Killin to concede the race less than 45 minutes after polls closed. He said the data wasn't working in his favor.
The Killin watch party is victorious, vibrant. Killin came out to hugs and photos knowing that she’s wrapped up the Democratic nomination for Colorado's 5th Congressional District.
– Tony Gorman, CPR reporter
8:19 p.m. Hurd wins a second primary, but wildfires on his mind.
Congressman Jeff Hurd won his second primary tonight. The Republican from Grand Junction was in Washington, D.C., tonight. He told supporters in Grand Junction that the wildfires blanketing his hometown in smoke as votes were being counted are front of mind.
“The wildfire summer is started and it's bad. And we need to do everything we can to make sure that we're fighting for our farmers, our ranchers, our small business owners, everyone that is affected by these wildfires that are throughout the district.”
– Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
8:16 p.m. Weiser defeats Bennet
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has defeated U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary in the race to become Colorado’s next governor.
The Associated Press called the race for Weiser just before 8 p.m., with Weiser leading Bennet 54.7 percent to 45.3 percent.
— Bente Birkeland, CPR public affairs and politics reporter
8:10 p.m. Kiros takes early lead in hotly contested race
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros, 29, led Rep. Diana DeGette by 2 percentage points in early returns Tuesday night, signaling trouble for an incumbent who has held the seat for nearly 30 years.
Ballots are still coming in and the race is too early to call, but the early results put Kiros in position to join a wave of leftist victories in Democratic primaries.
— Kiara DeMare, Denverite
8:03 p.m. Kirkmeyer is hanging on to a slim lead
State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer was clinging to a slim lead over political newcomer Victor Marx in the GOP governor’s primary after a little more than half the state’s vote had been tabulated.
As of 7:45 pm Kirkmeyer had 41% of the vote, Marx had 39%, and State Rep. Scott Bottoms had 20%. All three candidates had been waiting for the first returns from heavily Republican El Paso County, and when they arrived, it looked like they were in for a long night.
— Ben Markus, CPR investigative reporter
7: 58 p.m. DEMver vs DEMver
John Hickenlooper might have won the Democratic nomination to represent the entire state at the U.S. Senate, but here’s an interesting data point. Both Hickenlooper and his progressive challenger, Julie Gonzales, have deep roots in Denver. Hickenlooper made his name first of one of the forefathers of Denver’s craft beer scene and then its Mayor, and Gonzales has developed a strong reputation as a community organizer and statehouse leader.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
7:51 p.m. Associated Press calls more races.
- Phil Weiser wins Democratic nomination for governor in Colorado.
- Jessica Killin wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Colorado's 5th Congressional District
- Michael Allen wins Republican nomination for attorney general in Colorado.
– CPR staff
7:45 p.m. Anxiety and excitement
The mood at the Bennet watch party is a distinct mix of anxious and excited. Folks are tight-lipped on how they think the race will play out.
One person I spoke to said she’s known Bennet for 17 years, which is how long he's been in the Senate. She said she's “nervous” but “cautiously optimistic. "There’s been no sign of the candidate yet. The room has been filling up steadily over the last hour, with many folks wearing Bennet t-shirts and stickers. A great many of them are checking their phones.
One person I spoke with, who worked on a campaign for governor the year Jared Polis was elected, said she thought the outcome tonight could be close with the size of the youth vote, which many believe favors Weiser, being key.
– John Daley, CPR health reporter.
7:41 p.m. The Associated Press calls some winners
- John Hickenlooper wins Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Colorado.
- Jena Griswold wins Democratic nomination for attorney general in Colorado.
- Amanda Gonzalez wins Democratic nomination for secretary of state in Colorado.
- Manny Rutinel wins Democratic nomination for U.S. House in Colorado's 8th Congressional District.
- Jeff Hurd wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District.
– CPR staff
7:35 p.m.: Tina Peters' possible replacement falls behind after first vote drop
Tina Peters' supporter, Abby Silzell, who is running for Clerk and Recorder in Mesa County is well behind her opponent after the first vote drop.
Silzell made a primary challenge against incumbent Bobbie Gross. She said she thought the prosecution of Tina Peters was a miscarriage of justice and that she wanted to see mail voting end. Gross, the incumbent clerk, leads 70% to 30% after the first drop of ballots and is on her way to retaining the seat.
– Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
7:37 p.m. Eclectic age group for Hetal Doshi
Hetal Doshi's party has an eclectic age group and demographic and a small bar on 17th Street. People were excited and expectant for her candidacy. They liked her intelligence, her experience. Some said they supported her because their 20 something children did and their friends who really understand the law and legal issues.
— Jenny Brundin, CPR education reporter
7:25 p.m. Results show Julie Gonzales lagging
Initial results show that Julie Gonzales’ campaign to unseat John Hickenlooper is significantly behind.
Joanne Hirsch of Berthoud said she’d be happy to have a Democrat retain the seat, but had hoped for Gonzales to win out. A peer from Hickenlooper’s generation, she had concerns that younger Coloradans wouldn’t feel represented by the 74-year-old and would be less incentivized to engage in the civic process.
“I want to see young people get involved and feel that their voice matters, and I think they need to hear that from younger people,” Hirsch said. “We've had our time.”
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
7:20 p.m. Other plans?
Jeff Crank, the incumbent in Colorado's 5th Congressional District who is running opposed in the primary, is not in attendance at the El Paso County GOP watch party.
— Dan Boyce, CPR Southern Colorado reporter
7:17 p.m. Broomfield Mayor Guyleen Castriotta attends Phil Weiser watch party with her wife
Broomfield Mayor Guyleen Castriotta and her wife, Carolyn Terry, are at the Phil Weiser watch party. CPR reporter Molly Cruse spoke to the pair about what sets Weiser apart in this race.
“Phil has demonstrated that he's dedicated to fighting for all Coloradans,” said Castriotta. “He's already had 60-something lawsuits against the Trump administration, and that's the kind of leadership that we need right now.”
“I think Wieser has a lot of energy…he's very authentic and that's really important to me,” said Terry. “And to be honest with you, I think I'm tired of the politicians who have been in Washington for a long time.”
Castriotta criticizes the current administration saying that with so many people struggling with affordability, the government needs to commit to financing solutions rather than zoning. “We need to figure out better ways to finance these housing projects so they're not sitting waiting for more money,” she said.
“We're fighting back fascism and he's the man to do it,” said Castriotta.
– Molly Cruse, CPR reporter; Orion Cenkl and Aeva Dye, KRCC interns
7: 13 p.m. Back at the Town Hall Collective
It’s just past 7 p.m., polls are closed! I’m at Town Hall Collective, watching the Secretary of State race at Amanda Gonzalez’s joint watch party with David Seligman and Julie Gonzales (same last name as Amanda Gonzalez, but spelled differently!). The energy is hopeful among supporters, initial results show Gonzalez in the lead.
“I'm anxious and I'm very hopeful that Amanda prevails,” Leonard Hunt, a longtime friend and supporter of Gonzalez, said.
— Sandy Battulga, CPR fellow
7:11 p.m. Seen at the Marx party: lots of cowboy hats
GOP governor’s race update. It’s a jubilant atmosphere at the Victor Marx watch party at Spruce Mountain Ranch in Larkspur. Almost 400 people are crowded into an indoor event space, with a third of the crowd wearing cowboy hats. The campaign is hyping up the crowd with videos of Marx, and speeches by supporters like Jeff Hunt. The messaging is focused on Marx as the outsider — with all the money. Marx has raised about $3 million, nearly four times more than State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer who is also running for the GOP and more than 10 times State Rep. Scott Bottoms.
— Ben Markus, CPR investigative reporter
7:04 p.m. Griswold has two roles this evening
Secretary of State Jena Griswold thanked supporters and volunteers briefly at the start of the celebration party in her bid for attorney general.
Then she had to race back to the office, because she has two roles tonight: she's a candidate for attorney general, but she's also in charge of elections in Colorado. She said she needed to be there at 7 p.m. when the polls closed to make sure there were no issues.
Griswold told me she felt very good about the campaign she ran to be the state's next attorney general and she looked forward to talking more after the first ballot drop.
— Allison Sherry, CPR justice reporter
7:02 p.m. Watching for the first drop of results
Party party at Town Hall Collaborative, which will be hosting a trifecta of candidates today: Julie Gonzales, David Seligman and Amanda Gonzalez. People here are nervous — they know that Gonzales faces an uphill battle against incumbent John Hickenlooper.
There’s a TV in the corner tuned into the Mexico versus South Africa game, with a handful of attendees wearing Mexico kits. I’m sure if the first batch of results don’t go Gonzales’ way, that TV will keep the mood up here.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
7 p.m. The polls are closed!
6:58 p.m. Two minutes to go
Tom Acker is watching primary results at the party hosted by 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Alex Kelloff in Grand Junction. Acker says the result he’s most interested in is the race between Julie Gonzales, whom Acker supports, and Incumbent John Hickenlooper.
"Well I’m really interested in seeing a change from the old guard to bring in some fresh new ideas and have candidates representing the interests of the community they’re going to be representing if they get elected," he said.
– Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
6:53 p.m. Parties show a contrast
The election night parties for Rep. Diana DeGette and her challenger, Melat Kiros, showed a contrast.
DeGette’s party, held in a tight room in the back of Carboy, drew only a handful of supporters, who were outnumbered by reporters ahead of the 7 p.m. results release.
Kiros’ party on Broadway drew more than 100 guests early in the night, reporter Kiara DeMare estimated — almost all of them decked out in gear for Kiros or the Democratic Socialists of America.
Wanda James, the third candidate, did not host a party.
— Andy Kenney, Denverite editor
6:51 p.m. Newest and most Hispanic district
One interesting thing to note is that Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is Colorado’s newest and most Hispanic district. So far it’s only elected Hispanic representation to Congress — Democrat Yadira Caraveo in 2022, and then Gabe Evans in 2024. If Manny Rutinel, who is also Latino, clinches this primary, that will guarantee continued Hispanic representation no matter who wins in November.
— Rae Solomon, politics and public affairs reporter for CPR
6:37 p.m. A race to watch
Hello! I’m Kiara DeMare with Denverite and I’ll be attending Melat Kiros’ party. Kiros is challenging 29-year-incumbent Diana DeGette to represent Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, which is mainly Denver.
Kiros is a democratic socialist and a first-time candidate who has caught national attention for her campaign — part of a broader shift in the Democratic Party towards socialism.
Sen. Bernie Sanders endorsed her campaign, which has grown from viral Instagram videos to an army of volunteers knocking on 100,000 doors, according to Kiros.
DeGette’s main message was that her deep experience will help in the Democrats’ fight against President Donald Trump and give her influence if the party retakes Congress.
If re-elected, DeGette will have the gavel on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. She said she’ll be focused on “reeling in” Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Wanda James, a CU regent, is also running for the seat, though the fight between Kiros and DeGette has captured almost all the spending and attention in the race.
The winner of the primary election will represent the Democratic Party in the November election. The Republican candidate, Christy Peterson, 41, lives in south Denver and works at a construction company doing office management and accounting. She was the only Republican nominee for the race.
The Democratic candidate will have an extreme advantage in blue Denver.
— Kiara DeMare, Denverite
6:24 p.m. Watch party at prep-mode at Bennet camp
The governor's race carries a flavor of the battle inside the Democratic Party between more establishment candidates, or those perceived that way, versus the ones challenging it.
In this race, both Michael Bennet and Phil Weiser are seasoned veterans who have handily won races in the past. Both have talked about similar issues, taking on Trump and affordability. Regarding Trump, both say the other has fallen short. Bennet says Weiser has just jumped to join lawsuits against the administration that were led by attorneys general in other states; Weiser has tried to tie Bennet to Washington and criticized him for supporting some of Trump’s cabinet picks.
Ultimately, the candidate that wins may be the guy who was most successful in convincing voters they’re the one who will take Trump and take on the political establishment. Both sides are raising and spending huge amounts of money and the race has been called a $20 million dollar blockbuster, with the pair raising and spending that amount.
— John Daley, CPR health reporter
6:15 p.m. Mesa voters drop off ballots in a shroud of wildfire smoke
Clifton resident Riean Medley voted on the Democratic ballot just before 6 p.m. at the Mesa County Central Services building as wildfire smoke settled into the valley. She says she voted for Phil Weiser.
“Definitely cost of living is on my mind. Gas prices and groceries, obviously. I also work in small business so making sure that small businesses are taken care of and that we can help the economy.”
As Mesa County residents drop off ballots this primary day, Tina Peters, the person who used to count those votes, is appearing in photos at the White House. (See below, 3:54 p.m. blog post, for more information on Peters’ White House appearance.)
– Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer and Orion Cenkl, KRCC intern
6:10 p.m.: Polls close in an hour. Here’s what we know about returned ballots so far.
As of 2 p.m. today, 1.1 million ballots had been returned in Colorado. That means that just over a quarter of Colorado’s 4 million active voters had returned ballots by this afternoon.
The majority - 98.7% - of those ballots were mailed in. Just 14,199 in-person ballots were returned by 2 p.m. The in-person voting timeframe ends at 7 p.m.
More voting numbers:
- Colorado has a majority makeup of unaffiliated voters (51.45%).
- 46.86% of returned ballots were from voters 65+.
- 34.1% of returned ballots were from registered Republicans, while 51.6% were from registered Democrats.
This data is from the Secretary of State’s website, which was last updated at 2:00 p.m. today, June 30.
– Orion Cenkl and Aeva Dye, KRCC interns
5:39 p.m. Democrats primary for Rep. Gabe Evans seat
Hi! I’m Rae Solomon, politics and public affairs reporter for CPR News. Today I’ll be covering the Democratic Primary race in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. Two Democratic candidates, state Rep. Manny Rutinel, of Commerce City and former state Rep. Shannon Bird of Westminster, are vying for the chance to unseat the current congressman, Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans. Tonight I’ll be coming to you live from Shannon Bird’s watch party as results come in. I’ll be watching for how the vote count varies across different counties in the district.
In the weeks leading up to the race, I’ve heard from CD8 Democratic primary voters on both sides.
Kathryn Lervick, a retired hospice nurse from Westminster, told me she decided to vote for Bird. “I just feel that she is the one who can beat Gabe Evans and that's what's really important to me,” Lervick said.
I also heard from Ernestine Garcia, a Democrat from Thornton, who said that though she likes Shannon Bird, she likes Manny Rutinel even more.
“I just think Manny's more of a fighter. There's a time and place for every candidate and I think at this time and this place, we need to have a fighter who understands the issue of the people in the community,” Garcia said.
— Rae Solomon, politics and public affairs reporter for CPR
5:35 p.m. Less than two hours left to drop off your ballots.
5:34: p.m. A closer look at Colorado's 5th Congressional District
Two Army veterans are seeking the Democratic nomination for Colorado 5th Congressional District in tonight’s Primary Election. Joe Reagan is looking to break through and win the nomination after losing to River Gassen in 2024. This time, his opponent is Jessica Killin, who is also an Army veteran. She’s a fourth-generation Coloradan, who also worked for USAA. She outraised both Regan and incumbent Rep. Jeff Crank in fundraising in the lead up to the Primary Election.
— Tony Gorman, CPR reporter
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Hap hap happy Primary Day! CPR Southern Colorado Reporter Dan Boyce here in lovely Colorado Springs. My esteemed colleague Tony Gorman and I are covering the Democratic primary for the state’s 5th Congressional District. Tony is heading to the Joe Reagan watch party and I’ll be covering Jessica Killin’s campaign. The winner will move on to face one-term incumbent Republican Rep. Jeff Crank.
Whoever wins this primary, Killin or Reagan, they will have a tough job ahead of them. The 5th District is the onlyone in Colorado to never send a Democrat to Washington.
— Dan Boyce, CPR Southern Colorado reporter
5:28 p.m. Eyes on the Western Slope
I’m Tom Hesse, one-half of CPR’s Western Slope coverage for this primary evening. In Grand Junction I’ll be at the watch party for Democrat Alex Kelloff, the Snowmass Democrat vying for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District.
CD-3 hasn’t elected a Democrat since Barack Obama was carried to the White House in 2008. The expansive district ranges from Craig to Cortez and La Plata County to Las Animas County. It still leans favorably for Republicans, but Democrats like Kelloff think the right candidate in the right year could tilt the race.
— Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
5:24 p.m. Contested primary for the Secretary of State
Hello, I’m Sam Brasch, a former political reporter turned one of CPR’s climate and environment reporters. I’ve helped cover the contested primary between Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez and State Sen. Jessie Danielson. Both have spent their career working to expand election access in Colorado. There’s also been no public polls released about the race, so it’s unclear who holds an edge in the contest.
Danielson, however, has raised roughly $411,000 to finance her campaign compared to $226,000 for Gonazelz. The state senator also earned a last-minute endorsement from the Denver Post editorial board due to her strong relationships with county clerks.
— Sam Brasch, CPR climate reporter
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Hi! I’m Sandy Battulga, CPR’s news fellow. I’ll be covering the Democratic Secretary of State primary race between Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez and state Sen. Jessie Danielson. Both have spent their career working to expand election access in Colorado. No public polls have been released about the race, so it’s unclear who holds an edge.
— Sandy Battulga, CPR fellow
5:13 p.m.: Voters from Aurora concerned about safety, unity
From a busy ballot drop box at Aurora’s Utah Indoor Pool, voters told CPR’s Sandy Battulga that they’re thinking about their communities as they cast their votes.
Francisco Garcia said his identity as a first generation Chicano citizen means he’s especially concerned about citizens getting involved. “Having a voice for people who can’t really have a voice right now in the political system…that’s really important,” he said.
Kelvin Agyemang said he’s voting with a mind toward community safety. “ICE is a very big barrier for us,” he said. Having a candidate that protects people, he said, is “very important."
Other voters are concerned with unity across the state. “The division stuff needs to stop,” said Jeff Christiansan. “Give us our old Colorado back.”
— Aeva Dye, KRCC intern, and Sandy Battulga, CPR fellow
5:03 p.m.: Voters across both parties express interest in changing the types of people they vote for.
CPR reporter Caitlyn Kim spoke to voters in the Denver area. Some of them said they’re looking for new blood in politics.
Cindy Robertson, a Democrat, said she’s done voting for candidates over 60. “The old guard needs to go away,” she said. “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 they have more energy to make the changes necessary.”
But some, like Ken Miller (an unaffiliated voter), think differently. Miller said he supports candidates who have “seniority”.
Leah Robertson said she’s stepping away from mainstream parties altogether.
“The mainstream party I’m kind of giving up on,” she said. “I’m really looking for more progressive ideas…stepping away from the more central, because that's not working, I don’t think.”
— Aeva Dye, KRCC intern
4:54 p.m. Visiting daughter helps nearly 100-year-old parents cast their ballots on time.
Darlene Jenkins grew up in Park Hills, graduating from George Washington High School and now lives in Tennessee. Her father Albert Groves is a native Denverite born in 1927 and her mother, Kathryne is 98.
“I'm here to drop off my parents' ballots,” Darlene tells Denverite’s Kevin Beaty. She said that her parents have never missed an election. “They believe in casting votes, so even in the primaries they always vote.”
She said both parents are engaged in Colorado politics. “I think that what they are looking at now is just ensuring that democracy, that their democracy is not jeopardized. They're looking for candidates who … will ensure and fight back to ensure that our democracy holds.”
And what does Darlene’s parents think of today’s political climate, noting that they might’ve seen a lot of political “ups and downs”?
Darlene said they are worried about the economy and the future for their grandchildren and great grandchildren. “They know what they went through. They have worked to make it better for their children and my grandchildren. So they don't want that to be jeopardized or taken away.”
She says it was important for her to help her parents participate.
“I volunteered to bring their ballots down for them. They were worried that they wouldn't get it in on time. I said, 'Oh, I'll drop it off for you right away.' So I want to make sure, I want to honor their commitment to participate in democracy.”
– Orion Cenkl, KRCC intern, and Kevin Beaty, Denverite
4:50 p.m. The team on the Senate seat
Hello, I’m Denverite’s Paolo Zialcita and I’ll be covering Julie Gonzales’s attempt to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper. Like Melat Kiros, Gonzales is hoping to latch onto growing discontent with establishment Democrats, arguing that Hickenlooper is too middle-of-the-road to effectively push back against President Donald Trump. How Gonzales fares will be an interesting look into how voters across Colorado think of progressive candidates.
The watch party also serves as the headquarters for attorney general candidate David Seligman, who is hoping to come out on top of a crowded Democratic primary. Expect updates on both elections from me tonight.
— Paolo Zialcita, Denverite
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Hello, I’m CPR’s Ishan Thakore, and I’m covering John Hickenlooper’s race to win a second Senate term. Hickenlooper has framed his candidacy around pushing back against President Trump’s policies, especially on immigration or cuts to scientific research. He’s also touted his bipartisan bonafides, in working across the aisle with Republicans on legislation. Limited polling so far shows Hickenlooper with a lead; he also enters the race with more contributions and stronger name recognition. But recent primary elections, like in New York City, have seen longtime moderate Democrats knocked off by progressive challengers.
—Ishan Thakore, CPR climate reporter
4:44 p.m. Meet some the reporters who are watching the governor's race
It’s John Daley and I’ll be covering Michael Bennet’s campaign as the incumbent senator faces Attorney General Phil Weiser in the race for governor today. They’re running to replace Gov. Jared Polis, a fellow Democrat, who is term-limited. One big thing I’m looking for today is which candidate generated some last minute momentum. A poll in early June gave Bennet a slight lead. Last week, a poll commissioned by a group backing Weiser had him ahead by 45% to 36%, with 19% undecided. Was that a true reflection of where things are headed, that Weiser is poised to win? Or is there a groundswell of support for Bennet that will carry him to victory, despite that poll. Whoever wins, will be heavily favored to become the next governor.
— John Daley, CPR health reporter
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Hi! This is Molly Cruse, CPR’s general assignment and breaking news reporter. Tonight, I’ll be covering Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s campaign in his bid for the governor’s office. After serving eight years as Colorado’s top prosecutor, Weiser is seeking to succeed Gov. Jared Polis in a closely watched Democratic primary against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet.
While the two candidates share many policy positions, the race has largely centered on who Democratic voters believe is best equipped to lead Colorado and take on the Trump administration.
I’ll be bringing you updates from Weiser’s election night watch party throughout the evening, along with the latest developments as results come in.
— Molly Cruse, CPR reporter
4:15 p.m. Counting down until 7 p.m.
3:58 p.m. What are voters saying?
“I really like the idea of Melat Kiros. She's young, she's vibrant, she's very exciting, she has no experience and I think that at this juncture, having a fighter already in Congress, who knows what the heck she's doing, is absolutely vital." – Kellie Rockey, Denver resident, who is also supporting Weiser, Doshi and DeGette.
“I'm tired of the lifetime politicians and never anything changes with those people. But like President Trump, he's never a politician. He's just a man that wanted or to do the right thing for the people of this country. And I think Victor Marx is in the same line of that type of personality.” – Zane Nelson, registered Republican from Elizabeth, supporting Marx.
“I think the Democratic voter base is way more progressive than our representatives. And I think we finally have representatives who are voicing some of those opinions and are viable.” – Jeremy Baumann, 29, Denver Democrat. He says he’s actually excited about this election season, supporting progressive slate.
— Caitlyn Kim, CPR public affairs reporter and Orion Cenkl, KRCC intern
3:54 p.m. Peters at the White House
As Mesa County residents drop off ballots this primary day, the person who used to count those votes is appearing in photos at the White House.
Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters appeared in a social media post from President Donald Trump showing her next to the 47th president in the Oval Office. Peters was convicted as a part of a scheme to uncover fraud in county elections, which was never proven.
Trump made several efforts to free her and a month ago Peters was let out of state prison thanks to a commutation from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. A Facebook post linked to Peters showed her in photos with Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Both of the Democrats vying to replace Polis have criticized the outgoing governor for his decision to shorten her sentence. However, Republican candidate Scott Bottoms — whom Peters endorsed — said he would go further and offer a full pardon to Peters, clearing her criminal record.
— Tom Hesse, CPR Western Slope producer
3:21 p.m.: What to do if you’re evacuated from a wildfire
Colorado voters who haven’t yet voted and have lost access to their ballots due to wildfire evacuations can request emergency replacement ballots and vote today.
Eligible voters who need a replacement ballot can request one by visiting a voter center anywhere in the state.
- Visiting a voter center within your home county? Your replacement ballot will allow you to vote within all of your local contests.
- Visiting a voter center outside of your home county? Your replacement ballot will allow you to vote within statewide races.
Replacement ballots can also be requested here.
Mail ballots can be returned to a drop box or voter center anywhere in the state by 7 p.m. today. It’s too late to return ballots by mail. Drop box and voter center locations can be found here.
— Aeva Dye, KRCC intern
3 p.m. Today is Colorado’s most consequential primary in nearly a decade.
Voters will be tasked with selecting nominees for the state’s Democratic, Republican, Libertarian and Unity parties. Those winners will go on to the general election in November.
Polls close at 7 p.m. If you have a mail-in ballot, you must turn it in in-person at a ballot box or polling place by then.
Every statewide seat is open. That means Coloradans will take a big step on Tuesday in deciding their next governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
Colorado also has key primaries in five of its congressional districts, including three races where incumbents face challengers from either the left or right.
In the race for governor, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser are vying for the Democratic nomination. The winner of their race will have an advantage in the midterms.
On the Republican side, voters will decide between state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, state Rep. Scott Bottoms and political outsider Victor Marx.
Tuesday’s contests also feature a crowded field for a new attorney general and secretary of state.
Meanwhile, Colorado’s congressional incumbents are facing primary challenges.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd in District 3 is being challenged on the right by Ron Hanks. In District 1, longtime U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is in her closest race ever against Melat Kiros and Wanda James. And U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is up against progressive state Sen. Julie Gonzales.
For information on how to vote and on the candidates, head to the CPR Voter Guide.
— Alejandro A. Alonso Galva, CPR afternoon editor
