The Democratic primary for Colorado governor is approaching on June 30, and candidates U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and the state’s Attorney General Phil Weiser are working to win over voters ahead of a potential matchup against a Republican in November. However, many Democratic voters in Colorado remain skeptical of both candidates, painting a challenging picture for the party ahead of the general election.
As reported by The Colorado Sun, both candidates recently participated in a debate at Colorado State University, discussing how they would address issues such as the lack of affordable housing and healthcare for many residents. Both Democrats also argued that they would push back against the Trump administration, another issue that resonates with many primary voters.
However, neither candidate provided specific details about proposals such as changes to the state’s tax system or whether they would consider selecting a woman or a person of color as their running mate.
Colorado Democratic Voters Are Not Hopeful For the Midterms
Democratic voters on Reddit’s r/Colorado shared their thoughts on the candidates, and many had harsh criticisms of both. One commenter wrote, “I don’t really like either of these guys tbh. Weiser is hard to pin down in terms of how he would govern, whereas we know who Bennet is, but hate some of the decisions he’s made as Senator.”
Another user bemoaned, “Old white dudes who don’t know how average people live. How do we always end up here?”
Many users were particularly critical of Bennet, citing his lengthy tenure in the U.S. Senate. One resident criticized him by saying, “Of all the things Bennet said, he hadn’t pushed any one of those ideas at the federal level WHEN HE HAS BEEN IN OFFICE THE PAST 17 YEARS!” Someone else added: “Bennet is the human equivalent of a wet pair of socks.”
Other concerns centered on ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has faced increased scrutiny in some political circles. One user wrote, “Only one took AIPAC money, so it wasn’t a hard decision for me,” referring to Bennet. Another responded: “Only because the other one is a state-level politician, and they don’t donate to state campaigns.”
Others simply lamented what they saw as a lack of appealing options. As one commenter put it: “Old white dudes who don’t know how average people live. How do we always end up here?”
It remains to be seen which candidate will emerge victorious in the primary and earn the chance to run for governor in November. However, judging by the reactions online, neither candidate has fully won over a significant portion of the Democratic electorate.
