2026 Colorado gubernatorial election
The 2026 Colorado gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Colorado. The primary elections will take place on June 30, 2026. Incumbent Democratic governor Jared Polis is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term in office.
Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in Colorado since Bill Owens was re-elected in 2002.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
Declined
- Jason Crow, U.S. representative for '
- Jena Griswold, secretary of state of Colorado '
- Mike Johnston, mayor of Denver and candidate for governor in 2018
- Joe Neguse, U.S. representative for and nominee for secretary of state in 2014 ''''
Polling
| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Jena Griswold | Joe Neguse | Ken Salazar | Phil Weiser | Other | Undecided |
| Healthier Colorado /Magellan Strategies | December 4–9, 2024 | 630 | ± 3.9% | 16% | 20% | 11% | 8% | 8% | 37% |
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Scott Bottoms, state representative from the 15th district
- Jason Clark, money manager, candidate for governor in 2014 and independent candidate in 2010
- Joshua Griffin, research and development firm founder and candidate for in 2024
- Barbara Kirkmeyer, state senator from the 23rd district, candidate for Colorado's 4th congressional district in 2014, and nominee for Colorado's 8th congressional district in 2022
- Victor Marx, ministry leader
- Will McBride, attorney
- Jason Mikesell, Teller County Sheriff
- Joe Oltmann, podcaster
Filed paperwork
- Stevan Gess
- Jon Gray-Ginsberg, candidate for governor in 2022
- Robin Jones
Withdrawn
- Mark Baisley, state senator from the 4th district
- Greg Lopez, former U.S. Representative from and candidate for governor in 2018 and 2022 ''''
Third parties
American Constitution
Filed paperwork
- Stephen Hamilton
No Labels
Filed paperwork
- Frederick Osborne, actor
Independents
Declared
- Greg Lopez, former U.S. Representative from and candidate for governor in 2018 and 2022 ''''
Filed paperwork
- Jon Collamer
- Bradley Allen Wall
- Shawn Bennett
Declined
- Kent Thiry, former CEO of DaVita