Victor Marx pulled off a surprise win in Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial primary, beating state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and Rep. Scott Bottoms, and staking a claim as the GOP nominee going into a state that hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2002. The result landed as the Associated Press called the race on Thursday, setting up a pitched fall contest with Democrat Phil Weiser. Marx’s veteran background and ministry work are central to his appeal, while critics question whether his style fits Colorado. The campaign’s drama, personal history and sharp reactions from rivals make this a race to watch.
Marine veteran Victor Marx emerged as the winner of the Republican primary, knocking off Barbara Kirkmeyer and distancing himself from Scott Bottoms. The outcome looked tight on election night, with Marx edging out Kirkmeyer in what officials later confirmed as a very close contest. For Republicans who wanted a candidate unafraid to challenge the status quo, Marx represents a clear break from career politicians. His victory is a message that outsiders can still win in a state that has increasingly leaned the other way.
Marx leaned hard into his background to connect with voters who value service and grit. He has repeatedly highlighted his military experience and the humanitarian missions he leads, pitching himself as someone who takes action where others talk. On his campaign site he writes, “as the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, I’ve led more than 150 high-stakes missions across some of the world’s most dangerous regions — delivering trauma relief, medical aid, and hope to victims of terrorism, trafficking, and violence.” That narrative powered a ground game that ultimately pushed him over the line.
After the win, Marx made a big, unmistakable statement to supporters: “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,” he declared in a part of a Thursday on X. The capitalized, grateful message was meant to energize volunteers and donors and to underline the grassroots nature of the campaign. Republicans hungry for a fighter saw that post as validation that their activism matters.
https://x.com/victormarx/status/2075347956748992620
Marx’s biography carries weight, but it also carries controversy. He has written about a traumatic childhood claim that when he was 7 years old, his stepfather placed his hand around his own and made him shoot and kill someone. Voters react to that kind of revelation in different ways—some see survival and toughness, others see a complicated past. Marx has used his life story to frame his commitment to confronting violence and trafficking, not as a political gimmick but as the source of his calling to serve.
Barbara Kirkmeyer, the runner-up, responded graciously while reminding voters of the closeness of the race. “While we came up short in what appears to be the closest Republican gubernatorial primary in Colorado history, I’m grateful for every voter who placed their trust in us,” Kirkmeyer on Thursday. “I’m still proud of the campaign we ran… and, for the record, I still haven’t killed anyone.” Her response kept the tone civil while acknowledging an energetic fight that could have swung either way.
On the Democratic side, Attorney General Phil Weiser has already positioned himself as the general election choice and didn’t shy from criticizing Marx. “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,” Weiser said in part of a Thursday statement. Democrats will frame Marx as too extreme for the state, and Republicans will counter that Weiser represents the same old establishment that has failed to keep Colorado safe or prosperous.
This race now sets up a clear contrast heading into November: a Republican outsider shaped by combat and humanitarian work versus a Democratic establishment figure steeped in statewide office. Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since 2002, so Marx’s team has a tall hill to climb but also a compelling story to sell. Expect sharp messaging from both sides as the campaign pivots from primary fights to a fall general election where every vote will count.
