Rep. Jared Polis (D) defeated state Treasurer Walker Stapleton (R), Bill Hammons (Unity), and Scott Helker (L) in the general election on November 6, 2018, for governor of Colorado.
Incumbent Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term, leaving the seat open. Of the ten preceding gubernatorial elections, a Democratic candidate won eight—including Hickenlooper's victories in 2010 and 2014—and a Republican candidate won two. Hillary Clinton (D) carried the state in 2016 by a margin of 5 percentage points. As of November 2018, three race rating outlets rated the race Leans Democratic.
Polis' victory, alongside Democrats gaining a majority in the state senate, created a Democratic trifecta in Colorado. At the time of the 2018 election, Colorado had been under divided government since Democrats lost their state senate majority in the 2014 elections.
As a result of the 2018 elections, Democrats gained a triplex (control of the governorship, attorney general office, and secretary of state office) in Colorado. The attorney general and secretary of state offices had been held by Republicans in 2018.
The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under Colorado state law, the governor has the power to veto congressional district proposals put forward by the state legislature. The governor is also responsible for appointing three of the 11 commissioners to the board responsible for drawing state legislative districts.
Colorado was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.
Colorado Governor 2018 (no margin of error information provided) | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Poll sponsor | Jared Polis (D) | Walker Stapleton (R) | Undecided/Other | Margin of Error | Sample Size | ||||||||
Magellan Strategies (October 29-30, 2018) | Undisclosed | 45% | 40% | 15% | +/-4.4 | 500 | ||||||||
Keating Research, OnSight Public Affairs, and Martin Campaigns (October 25-30, 2018) | N/A | 50% | 42% | 9% | +/-4.3 | 517 | ||||||||
University of Colorado-Boulder (October 12-17, 2018) | N/A | 54% | 42% | 5% | +/-3.5 | 800 | ||||||||
Magellan Strategies (October 8-10, 2018) | Undisclosed | 47% | 40% | 13% | +/-4.4 | 500 | ||||||||
Keating Research and Magellan Strategies (September 18-20, 2018) | Healthier Colorado | 47% | 40% | 12% | +/-4.0 | 600 |
Colorado Governor 2018 (no margin of error information provided) | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll | Poll sponsor | Jared Polis (D) | Walker Stapleton (R) | Undecided/Other | Margin of Error | Sample Size | ||||||||
SSRS (August 15 - September 19, 2018) | Kaiser Family Foundation/Colorado Health Foundation | 44% | 33% | 24% | +/- | 1,585 | ||||||||
Public Policy Polling (June 27-28, 2018) | Democratic Party of Colorado | 46% | 38% | 16% | +/- | 608 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Kennedy vs. Stapleton hypothetical matchup
Poll | Poll sponsor | Cary Kennedy | Walker Stapleton | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strategies 360 (May 29 - June 6, 2018) | Service Employees International Union | 43% | 38% | 19% | +/-4.4 | 500 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Polis vs. Stapleton hypothetical matchup
Poll | Poll sponsor | Jared Polis | Walker Stapleton | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strategies 360 (May 29 - June 6, 2018) | Service Employees International Union | 42% | 37% | 21% | +/-4.4 | 500 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Kennedy vs. Tancredo hypothetical matchup
Poll | Cary Kennedy | Tom Tancredo | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (December 4-5, 2017) | 45% | 38% | 17% | +/-3.5 | 770 |
Keating Research (November 9-13, 2017) | 50% | 34% | 16% | +/-4.4 | 500 |
AVERAGES | 47.5% | 36% | 16.5% | +/-3.95 | 635 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Polis vs. Tancredo hypothetical matchup
Poll | Jared Polis | Tom Tancredo | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (December 4-5, 2017) | 46% | 38% | 16% | +/-3.5 | 770 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Johnston vs. Tancredo hypothetical matchup
Poll | Michael Johnston | Tom Tancredo | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (December 4-5, 2017) | 43% | 39% | 18% | +/-3.5 | 770 |
Colorado Governor 2018, Lynne vs. Tancredo hypothetical matchup
Poll | Donna Lynne | Tom Tancredo | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Public Policy Polling (December 4-5, 2017) | 43% | 38% | 19% | +/-3.5 | 770 |
The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage. Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.
Race ratings: Colorado gubernatorial election, 2018
Race tracker | Race ratings | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
November 5, 2018 | October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | |
The Cook Political Report | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic | Lean Democratic |
Incumbent Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) faced three candidates in his re-election bid in 2014. Hickenlooper was challenged by Republican Bob Beauprez, Libertarian Party candidate Matthew Hess and Green Party candidate Harry Hempy. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, 2014
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hickenlooper/Joseph Garcia Incumbent | 49.3% | 1,006,433 | |
Republican | Bob Beauprez/Jill Rapella | 46% | 938,195 | |
Libertarian | Matthew Hess/Brandon Young | 1.9% | 39,590 | |
Green | Harry Hempy/Scott Olson | 1.3% | 27,391 | |
Unaffiliated | Mike Dunafon/Robin Roberts | 1.2% | 24,042 | |
Unaffiliated | Paul Fiorino/Charles Whitley | 0.3% | 5,923 | |
Total Votes | 2,041,574 | |||
Election results via Colorado Secretary of State |
On November 2, 2010, John Hickenlooper won election to the office of Governor of Colorado. He defeated Tom Tancredo (ACP), Dan Maes (R), Jaimes Brown (L), Jason Clark (I) and Paul Fiorino (I) in the general election.
Governor of Colorado, 2010
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | John Hickenlooper | 51% | 912,005 | |
American Constitution Party | Tom Tancredo | 36.5% | 651,232 | |
Republican | Dan Maes | 11.1% | 199,034 | |
Libertarian | Jaimes Brown | 0.7% | 12,314 | |
Independent | Jason Clark | 0.5% | 8,576 | |
Independent | Paul Fiorino | 0.2% | 3,483 | |
Total Votes | 1,786,644 | |||
Election results via The New York Times. |
On November 7, 2006, Bill Ritter won election to the office of Governor of Colorado. He defeated Bob Beauprez (R), Dawn Winkler (L), Paul Fiorino (I), Clyde Harkins (C) and Charles "Chuck" Sylvester (Write-in) in the general election.
Governor of Colorado, 2006
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Bill Ritter | 57% | 888,095 | |
Republican | Bob Beauprez | 40.2% | 625,886 | |
Libertarian | Dawn Winkler | 1.5% | 23,323 | |
Independent | Paul Fiorino | 0.7% | 10,996 | |
Constitution | Clyde Harkins | 0.6% | 9,716 | |
Write-in | Charles "Chuck" Sylvester | 0% | 389 | |
Total Votes | 1,558,405 | |||
Election results via Connecticut Secretary of State. |
On November 5, 2002, Bill Owens won re-election to the office of Governor of Colorado. He defeated Rollie Heath (D), Ronald Forthofer (G) and Ralph Shnelvar (L) in the general election.
Governor of Colorado, 2002
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bill Owens Incumbent | 62.6% | 884,583 | |
Democratic | Rollie Heath | 33.7% | 475,373 | |
Green | Ronald Forthofer | 2.3% | 32,099 | |
Libertarian | Ralph Shnelvar | 1.5% | 20,547 | |
Total Votes | 1,412,602 | |||
Election results via Connecticut Secretary of State. |
Demographic data for Colorado
Colorado | U.S. | |
---|---|---|
Total population: | 5,448,819 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 103,642 | 3,531,905 |
Gender | ||
Female: | 49.8% | 50.8% |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 84.2% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 4% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 2.9% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.9% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0.1% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 3.5% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 21.1% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 90.7% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 38.1% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $60,629 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 13.5% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Colorado. |
As of July 2017, Colorado had a population of approximately 5.6 million people, and its two largest cities were Denver (pop. est. 719,000) and Colorado Springs (pop. est. 484,000).