State Rep. Scott Bottoms, a Colorado Springs Republican, announced Sunday while he was leading a church service that he will run for governor in 2026.
Bottoms, one of the most conservative and controversial members of the legislature, is the first major Republican candidate to jump into the contest. He has embraced election conspiracies and opposed efforts to protect and expand the rights of transgender people. Bottoms is also a fierce abortion opponent.
“If I don’t get elected, nothing changes except probably four or five bitter sermons for the next few weeks after that,” Bottoms joked to his congregation at the Church at Briargate, where he is lead pastor.
Bottoms encouraged his congregation not to talk to the media about him, saying that most reporters are “snakes in the grass.” He said he has amassed a national team to run his campaign.
Colorado’s current governor, Jared Polis, is term-limited and can’t run for reelection in 2026. Polis won his 2022 reelection bid by nearly 20 percentage points.
Colorado has not had a Republican governor since Bill Owens, who left office in early 2007 after two terms. In fact, no Republican has been elected statewide in Colorado since 2016.
Other Republicans who may run for governor in 2026 include state Sens. Barbara Kirkmeyer and Mark Baisley.
On the Democratic side, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is running to be the state’s top executive. Other potential Democratic candidates for governor in 2026 include Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold; U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse; U.S. Rep. Jason Crow; and Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico.