Victor Marx Wins GOP Nod for Colorado Governor, Splits Party

Victor Marx, a 61-year-old Marine Corps veteran and evangelical minister with a massive social media following, has won the Republican nomination for governor of Colorado, narrowly defeating state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in a contentious three-way primary race. The Associated Press called the race on July 9, days after the June 30 primary, with Marx securing approximately 39.9% of the vote to Kirkmeyer’s 39.4% and state Rep. Scott Bottoms’ 20.8%, according to The Colorado Sun.

A Political Outsider’s Rise

Marx, founder and CEO of All Things Possible Ministries, is a political newcomer with no prior elected office experience. He describes himself as a “high-risk humanitarian,” a seventh-degree black belt in Keichu-do karate, and “the world’s fastest gun disarmer.” His campaign has relied heavily on social media virality, including an action-style video showing him and his wife fighting off assailants in an elevator.

His entry into politics was catalyzed by the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September 2025. Kirk had written the foreword to Marx’s book, “The Dangerous Gentleman,” and Marx spoke at Kirk’s memorial service, hinting at a gubernatorial run. He formally launched his campaign later that year.

Marx has energized evangelical Christian voters in Colorado in a way not seen in about two decades, according to Republican strategist Kelly Maher, as reported by The Colorado Sun. However, his campaign has been dogged by questions about unverifiable biographical claims.

Controversies and Scrutiny

Marx’s most widely circulated claim is that his abusive stepfather forced him to kill a man at age 7. When asked by 9NEWS anchor Kyle Clark in a viral May interview whether he had killed anyone as an adult, Marx responded, “Does it matter?” The exchange drew national attention and became fodder for late-night comedy shows including “The Daily Show” and “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” as New York Magazine reported.

Other claims have faced scrutiny. Marx originally asserted he had “rescued” 45,000 women and children, later changing the language to “served” after journalists challenged the figure. His story of being forced to kill a man at age 7 is unverifiable; the local sheriff’s office in Mississippi has no record supporting it. Marx served in the Marines but never saw combat, and he went by the name Vaughn Victor Kennedy at the time of his discharge, according to Slate.

Campaign finance concerns have also emerged. An analysis by activist Darcy Schoening found over 100 donations above the legal limit and thousands of potential straw donors. The campaign characterized these as clerical errors.

A Divided Party

Neither of Marx’s primary opponents has endorsed him. Kirkmeyer’s statement after the race included the pointed remark: “I’m still proud of the campaign we ran … and, for the record, I still haven’t killed anyone.” Bottoms has described Marx as a “con man,” as The Denver Post reported.

“I believe the Republicans, with Victor Marx being on the ballot, are going to suffer big time,” said Trent Leisy, spokesperson for Bottoms’ campaign, in an interview with The Colorado Sun.

Dick Wadhams, a longtime Republican political consultant, told Slate: “I’ve never seen anything like this. Marx is the kind of candidate who will bring down a bunch of other Republicans.”

Complicating matters further, former U.S. Rep. Greg Lopez is running as an unaffiliated candidate, potentially siphoning Republican votes in the general election.

The General Election Challenge

Marx will face Democrat Phil Weiser, Colorado’s attorney general, in November. Weiser defeated U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary and is heavily favored. The Cook Political Report rates the race as “Solid Democrat.” Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since Bill Owens was re-elected in 2002, and the last Republican to win any statewide office was in 2016.

Marx’s campaign had burned through over 90% of the $2.8 million it raised, leaving only about $200,000 on hand before the primary. Unaffiliated voters comprise approximately 52% of the Colorado electorate, making them the largest voting bloc.

In a video statement after his victory, Marx struck an outsider’s tone: “If you’re frustrated, skeptical, or wondering if anything can actually change, I just proved it by winning the primary.”

What to Watch For

The central question now is whether Marx can unite a fractured party and appeal to moderate and unaffiliated voters. Republican strategist Kelly Maher noted that if Marx can shift focus to policy, he could potentially help down-ballot Republicans. But with a deeply divided party, a well-funded Democratic opponent, and a state that has trended increasingly blue, Marx faces a steep uphill climb.

As Kristi Burton Brown, former chair of the Colorado Republican Party, put it: “Like it or not, the Republican at the top of the ticket often becomes the standard bearer that year.”