Colorado Republican Primary Results: Victor Marx Wins Gubernatorial Nomination

Victor Marx, a Marine veteran and self-described “high-risk missionary,” has won the Republican primary for Colorado governor, defeating state senator Barbara Kirkmeyer by just under 2,500 votes. Marx will now face the Democratic nominee, state attorney general Phil Weiser, in the November general election, setting up a contest between the Republican nominee’s unconventional background and the Democratic attorney general’s platform.

Controversy Surrounding Campaign Claims

The primary campaign was marked by intense scrutiny of Marx’s personal history and the professional activities of his non-profit organization. During a televised debate in June, moderator Kyle Clark challenged Marx regarding several extraordinary claims, including assertions that he had performed 150 high-risk missions, stopped human smugglers at the Mexico border, and coordinated a U.S. military airstrike that resulted in the deaths of 70 ISIS fighters.

When pressed by Clark to provide evidence for these claims, Marx declined, stating, “I can’t help it if I’ve had an extraordinary life.” The candidate also faced questions regarding his past statements, including a claim that his stepfather forced him to kill a man when he was seven years old. Marx has not provided verification for these accounts, nor has he specified the number of people he has killed.

Reaction from Opponents and Party Figures

The nomination has drawn immediate criticism from Democratic nominee Phil Weiser. In a statement following the primary results, Weiser characterized Marx’s candidacy as a “threat to our state’s values” and described his platform as one based on “deception, demonization, and distraction.”

Barbara Kirkmeyer, who narrowly lost the nomination, acknowledged the result but declined to endorse Marx. In her concession statement, Kirkmeyer noted that while the primary appeared to be the closest Republican gubernatorial primary in Colorado history, she remains proud of her campaign and explicitly stated, “For the record, I still haven’t killed anyone.”

Policy Positions and Future Campaign Outlook

Marx has centered portions of his public persona on his work with a non-profit organization dedicated to “hunting predators as well as rescuing, restoring and empowering women and children who have been held captive by traffickers and other abusers”. Throughout the campaign, he pledged to continue performing exorcisms, both in person and via telephone, should he be elected governor.

The general election race now shifts to a contest between two starkly different political styles. While Marx continues to defend his background against skepticism from media and political opponents, Phil Weiser is expected to focus his campaign on traditional governance and critiques of his opponent’s unsubstantiated claims. As the November election approaches, voters in Colorado will decide whether to support the Republican nominee’s unconventional approach or the Democratic nominee’s record as attorney general.