Sen. Michael Bennet launches gubernatorial bid
DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. Senator Michael Bennet made it official on Friday that he is running for Colorado governor in 2026. He formally launched his campaign in City Park.
Bennet just announced his campaign this morning. He already has a lot of people talking.
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In front of a crowd of members of Congress, Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, and mayors past and present, Mike Johnston and Wellington Webb, along with Wilma Webb, Michael Bennet launched his gubernatorial campaign. He came by the FOX31 studio afterward to explain why he is running.
'I've been thinking about it for a while. I mean, because ever since the election, it should force all of us to reconsider our perceptions of what's working and what's not working well,' said Bennet.
The former Chief of Staff for then-Mayor John Hickenlooper and former DPS superintendent says he wants to make the American dream attainable in Colorado and fight president Donald Trump's policies.
'I think the reason why people have voted for Donald Trump in many ways is that they are feeling the lack of economic mobility in our society. You know, when I was growing up, if you worked hard, you felt like you could get ahead. If you worked hard, you felt like your kids were gonna do better than you were. In too many places in America, including right here in Colorado, people don't feel that way,' Bennet said. 'There are a lot of places where people feel like their kids will never be able to afford to live. In Colorado, we are the best state in America, but it's not gonna work well if the next generation can't stay here, and I think that we have to be able show a vision that looks a lot different than the chaos that Donald Trump has represented because I don't think the American people really want that either. We need to show that our exercise in self-government should work.'
The senator said he thinks the answers will come from states like Colorado rather than Washington D.C. One of his Democratic opponents is saying the opposite.
Attorney General Phil Weiser issued a statement saying:
'While Senator Bennet has been in Washington, I have served Colorado as the People's Lawyer, working directly with people in every county of every background to solve difficult challenges. That's just what a governor does. I am prepared for this job and will continue to build a better future for us all. We must protect Colorado and oppose Trump's illegal actions, not appease him. I am the fighter Colorado needs as our next governor. Two years ago, the voters sent Senator Bennet back to DC because we believed he would be there for us no matter what – especially in historically dangerous moments like the one we currently face. Now more than ever, we need experienced Democratic leaders in Washington,' said Weiser.
Meanwhile, Republicans in the state are not mincing words about the senator's bid. Newly minted Colorado GOP Chair Brita Horn said in a statement:
'In 16 years representing Colorado in the U.S. Senate, he has had nothing to show for it. He's managed to skate by his entire political career with defeating underfunded opponents and no serious primary opposition in a decade. I anticipate his campaign for Governor going the same way his 2020 Presidential campaign did – nowhere,' said Horn.
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If Bennet should become governor, he said he would appoint someone to take his Senate seat. He said he has not had conversations with anyone about that yet.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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