Colorado governor and congressional primaries center on housing, health and safety

In the Colorado gubernatorial primary debate, Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet stressed reducing regulations to expand affordable housing for essential workers, while Republican contenders Scott Bottoms, Barb Kirkmeyer and Victor Marx emphasized similar deregulation, lower grocery and construction costs, and stronger public‑safety resources. Both parties also addressed the state's drought and water‑rights negotiations, with Bennet promoting a cap‑and‑dividend emissions plan.

In the 8th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Gabe Evans faces two Democratic challengers, state‑House members Rutinel and Bird. The Democrats focus on lowering the cost of living by reversing Trump‑era tariffs, expanding social programs, securing health‑care coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents, and reforming immigration enforcement. Evans highlights Medicaid spending and critiques Democratic leadership on health‑care costs, while also calling for a return to traditional foreign‑policy alliances.