Metro Denver’s political scene is heating up, and the 2026 election cycle is shaping into a high-stakes test of party strength, ideology, and new leadership. Most of the action won’t wait for November — the real contests are in the primaries.

Up north, Shannon Bird is stepping down from the Colorado Legislature to focus on flipping the 8th Congressional District back to blue. She first launched her campaign in May 2025 and confirmed in early December that she’ll resign her seat to go all-in on the race. That leaves an open House seat and a competitive Democratic primary before facing Republican incumbent Gabe Evans.

On Dec. 8, 2025, State Sen. Julie Gonzales announced a primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, framing the contest as a generational and ideological crossroads for Colorado Democrats. Their June 30, 2026, primary will determine who appears on the November ballot for Senate.

Even in deep‑blue Denver, longtime U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is facing primary challengers — Wanda James (Sep. 17, 2025) and Melat Kiros (Jul. 9, 2025) — pushing for new leadership. In her district, the Democratic primary effectively decides the November winner, making this contest particularly important.

Colorado’s gubernatorial race adds another major statewide storyline. Term‑limited Gov. Jared Polis cannot run in 2026. Two major Democrats are in the race: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (Apr. 2025) and Attorney General Phil Weiser (Jan. 2025). On the Republican side, a crowded field — including Barbara Kirkmeyer, Greg Lopez, Mark Baisley, Scott Bottoms, and others — is competing in the GOP primary.

All of these primaries — for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House seats — happen before the November general election. That makes the June 30, 2026, primary the true battleground where winners will set the stage for the big races in the fall.

Metro Denver is gearing up for a tense and unpredictable 2026 election cycle:

open seats, incumbent challenges, ideological clashes within parties, and a major governor’s race. The June primaries, not November, will likely shape Colorado politics for years to come.