2026 is a midterm year, which means Coloradans will have the opportunity to vote on amendments, measures and candidates to determine Colorado’s legislative branch makeup for the next two years.
Midterms take place at the halfway point of every President’s term. Primaries for nominees will take place on June 30, and midterms will take place on Nov. 3. Candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Treasurer will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Midterms are an opportunity for voters to signal their approval or disapproval of a current administration, influence state law and have their interests represented at the state and federal level. According to the U.S. Vote Foundation, midterm elections “can create a dramatic power shift in the function of an administration.”
In preparation for the midterm season, here’s an overview of a few positions on the ballot this fall.
State Higher Education Board
The State Higher Education Board, commonly known as the Board of Regents, has three seats up for election in 2026. The State Higher Education Board sets policies for and manages the finances of all state colleges and universities.
State Higher Education Board District 2, currently held by Callie Rennison, District 6, held by Ilana Spiegel and District 7, held by Nolbert Chavez, will be on the ballot. Board members serve 6-year terms.
According to her website, Spiegel is running for re-election as a CU Regent in Colorado’s 6th congressional district. Chavez also announced plans to run for re-election.
Rennison will not seek re-election in her district. Candidates running in District 2, which covers Boulder and Fort Collins, include Democrats Eddie Hooton, Kubs Lalchandani and Murray Smith.
U.S. Senate
Sitting Senator John Hickenlooper will face re-election during the midterm cycle. Hickenlooper is a Democrat and took office in 2021.
Of the 100 Senate seats at the federal level, 33 are up for election. The midterm elections will decide the partisan split of the Senate, which currently sits at a 53-45 Republican majority.
Colorado’s second Senator, Democrat Michael Bennet, is not up for re-election in 2026.
U.S. House of Representatives
UCCS falls within Congressional voting district 5, which is represented by Republican Jeff Crank. Crank took office in 2025. He announced his intention to run for re-election in November.
Crank faces challenges from “an unusually crowded field of Democrats” led by candidate Jessica Killin, according to Colorado Politics. Joe Reagan, Matt Cavanaugh, Zuri Horowitz and Justice Lord are also in the running for the Democratic nomination.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office will determine each of the petitioning candidates’ eligibility to participate in the June 30 Democratic primary by late April. Crank will run unopposed in the Republican primary.
Republicans currently hold a 217-214 majority in the House of Representatives. Colorado’s 5th congressional district (CD) has never elected a Democratic Representative. However, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Colorado’s CD5 to its list of “districts in play,” or potentially vulnerable Republican-held seats, according to reporting by Colorado Politics.
Governor
Democrat Jared Polis has served as Colorado’s Governor since 2019. Polis will not run for re-election, leaving the Democratic and Republican nominees up to the June 30 primaries.
Carmen Broesder, David Hughes, Anthony Martinez, Eric Underwood, Senator Michael Bennet, and Attorney General Phil Weiser make up the field ahead of the Democratic primary.
There are 24 candidates running for the Republican nomination, including Representative Scott Bottoms, Bob Brinkerhoff, John Brooks, Jason Ray Clark, Brycen Garrison, Stevan Gess and SGA Senator of the College of Education Teri Kear.
Lieutenant Governor
Democrat Dianne Primavera has served as Colorado’s Lieutenant Governor since 2019.
It is too early in the race to determine the full list of candidates running for the position, but Lawrence Clark of the American Constitution Party and Joshua Hampton, an unaffiliated candidate, have declared their candidacy.
Secretary of State
Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced her intention to run for Colorado Attorney General in April 2025.
Without an incumbent in the race, the June 30 primaries will select a Democratic and Republican nominee. Current contenders include Amanda Gonzalez and State Senator Jessie Danielson for the Democratic nomination, and James McKinzie, Cory Parella, Ross Taraborelli and James Wiley for the Republican nomination.
Third-party candidates Celeste Landry and Melissa Richards will run in the general election for Colorado Secretary of State on Nov. 3.
State Attorney General
Democrat Phil Weiser has served as State Attorney General since 2019. Weiser will run for Governor in 2026, leaving the State Attorney General race without an incumbent.
Candidates running in the Democratic primary for State Attorney General include current Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Hetal Doshi, Michael Dougherty, Crisanta Duran and David Seligman.
Candidates running in the Republican primary include current El Paso County District Attorney Michael Allen and Conner Pennington.
State Treasurer
Democrat Dave Young has served as Colorado State Treasurer since 2019 but is not seeking reelection.
Candidates running in the Democratic primary for State Treasurer include Gerald Ditullio, John Mikos, State Senator Jeff Bridges and State Representative Brianna Titone.
Former State Senator Kevin J. Grantham will run unopposed for the Republican nomination.
American Constitution Party candidate Murl Hendrikson IV will run as a third-party candidate in the general election.
The American flag waving in the wind. Photo by Jade Esquibel.