Victor Marx Wins Republican Nomination for Governor in Colorado Primary

Victor Marx, a Marine Corps veteran and ministry leader, won the Republican primary for Colorado governor on Thursday and will face Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, in November’s election.

Marx was declared the winner following an extended count of the final votes from the June 30 primary. The Marine Corps veteran narrowly defeated his opponent over a week after the race was too close to call on election night.

Marx received 39.9 percent of the vote, while his top opponent, Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Republican state senator, received 39.4 percent. Scott Bottoms, a Republican state representative, finished with 20.8 percent of the vote.

Marx thanked his supporters in a video message and invited Colorado voters who did not vote for him to join his coalition ahead of the midterm elections in November.

“If you’re frustrated, skeptical, or wondering if anything can actually change,” Marx said, “I just proved it by winning the primary.”

Marx said Colorado families are currently facing challenges such as unaffordable housing and healthcare, high costs, and fears of unsafe schools and neighborhoods. “Let’s face it, Colorado has changed, and not for the better,” he said in a social media statement that accompanied his video.

Marx joined the Marine Corps after experiencing a troubled childhood. He previously said he had 123 visits with a trauma specialist after he was abused as a child.

Marx said his biological father threatened to kill his mother after she discovered that she was pregnant with him. He said his stepfather effectively forced him to kill a man when he was only 7. Marx also said he was nearly drowned by his stepfather and suffered “unimaginable physical, emotional, and sexual abuse” as a child.

“The Marines taught me discipline, brotherhood, and, for the first time, gave me a true sense of purpose,” Marx said in a statement on his campaign website.

Marx also founded All Things Possible Ministries and has led over 150 “high-stakes missions” to some of the most dangerous regions across the world, according to his campaign’s website. Marx said the missions have provided medical aid and trauma relief to victims of trafficking, terrorism, and violence. Marx’s ministry teams have reportedly served over 45,000 women and children.

“I understand hardship because I’ve lived it. I understand leadership because I’ve practiced it—in war zones, on rescue missions, and while rebuilding communities,” Marx said in a statement detailing why he is running for governor.

“Now, I’m taking on a new mission, right here at home, for the people I love and for the Colorado where my children and grandchildren will hopefully raise their own families.”

Marx is expected to face an uphill battle against Weiser in November. The last time a Republican nominee was elected governor in Colorado was in 2002, when Bill Owens won his second term.

Weiser defeated Michael Bennet, a Democratic state senator, in the June 30 primary. Weiser previously was dean of the University of Colorado Law School, worked in both the Obama and Clinton administrations at the Department of Justice and the White House, and has served two terms as attorney general of Colorado.