Republican Candidates Take Center Stage In Key Colorado Governor Debate

By Bente Birkeland | CPR News

Republican gubernatorial candidates state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and state Rep. Scott Bottoms are scheduled to take the stage Thursday in their first televised debate ahead of the June 30 primary election. 

The candidates hope to replace outgoing Gov. Jared Polis, who is term-limited after eight years in office. A third GOP contender, Victor Marx, a Marine and nonprofit Christian ministry leader, declined to participate. 

Bottoms and Kirkmeyer have attended multiple forums together, talking about their leadership styles and how they hope to get the state back on track after years of Democratic control. Marx has separately held his own community events. 

The debate, hosted by CPR News, Denver7 and The Denver Post, is the first time Kirkmeyer and Bottoms will field questions from journalists to make their pitch to primary voters. The debate will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. on Denver7 and on CPR’s statewide radio network, and streamed on the websites of all three organizations.

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