Updated July 9, 5:39 p.m.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has defeated Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary for governor. A former law professor at CU Boulder, Weiser’s mother was born in Buchenwald two days after it was liberated. In a state that has only had one Republican governor in a decades-long span, Gov. Bill Owens, the Democratic candidate is considered the presumptive winner in the November general election. A DJDS parent and active at Kohelet and Rodef Shalom, Weiser is an active member of the Denver Jewish community.
In other races that the local Jewish community was closely following:
- Congressional District 1, Democratic Primary: Melat Kiros, who declined to describe the Boulder firebomber as anti-Semitic, and who implied that Israel deserved Oct. 7, beat out long-time incumbent Diana DeGette
- Congressional District 8, Democratic Primary: former State Rep. Shannon Bird, who was endorsed by the Democratic Majority for Israel and who has deep relations with the local Jewish community, was defeated by State Rep. Manny Rutinel.
- US Senate, Democratic Primary: Incumbent John Hickenlooper defeated State Sen. Julie Gonzales who raised concerns among many Jewish voters when she went on the Hasan Piker show and endorsed the view that Israel is committing genocide.
- Attorney General, Democratic Primary: Sec. of State Jena Griswold, who is Jewish, emerged victorious in a four-person contest.
- Attorney General, Republican Primary: 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen, who condemned anti-Israel language to the IJN, beat out David Willson.
- Governor, Republican Primary: State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer conceded to Victor Marx, July 9. The two were locked in an extremely tight race. As of the July 9, 5:28 p.m. update by the Secretary of State, Marx was ahead by 2,524 votes, 39.87% against Kirkmeyer’s 39.38%.
