Colorado GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Clash on Budget and Housing

Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial candidates are locked in a three-way battle for the June 30 primary, and they agree on one thing: the state’s political machinery is broken.

Scott Bottoms, Victor Marx, and Barbara Kirkmeyer aren’t just fighting each other; they’re fighting the memory of 2002. That was the last time a Republican held the governor’s office. As Bottoms, a Colorado Springs state representative and lead pastor, puts it, the party has endured a "long stretch of losses" that need reversing.

The question is whether the voters who stayed home in 2022 will return, or if these three can convince them that the current trajectory isn’t sustainable.

The candidates come from different worlds. Bottoms, 55, is a Navy veteran and legislator. Marx, 60, is a first-time candidate running on his nonprofit ministry leadership. Kirkmeyer, 67, brings nearly two decades of Weld County commission experience and a background in dairy farming.

Yet, when asked about the core issues facing Western Slope neighbors and Coloradans alike — housing, roads, and the budget — their answers reveal a party trying to find its footing.

The Budget and the Deficit

Colorado’s structural deficit is the elephant in the room. If a Republican wins, they inherit a legislature still controlled by Democrats. That means governing is a negotiation, not a dictatorship.

Kirkmeyer, who led the Department of Local Affairs under Gov. Bill Owens, sees the budget as a matter of discipline. She points to the state’s spending habits as the primary driver of the deficit.

"We have to look at where the money is going," Kirkmeyer says. "It’s not just about raising taxes. It’s about efficiency."

Bottoms agrees, but he adds a layer of local context. He notes that while state-level cuts are necessary, local governments are feeling the pinch too. The tension between state mandates and local funding is a recurring theme in Denver and beyond, but it hits home in places like Delta and Montrose where property taxes are already a concern for homeowners.

Marx takes a different angle. He argues that the state’s growth, specifically the influx of data centers; hasn’t been matched by infrastructure improvements.

"The data centers are here," Marx says. "They’re using our power grid. They’re using our land. But the revenue isn’t flowing back to the people who built the roads they drive on."

Housing and Zoning

Gov. Jared Polis has pushed local governments to overhaul zoning codes to allow for denser housing. The GOP candidates are split on how to handle that legacy.

Bottoms supports continuing the effort but wants more flexibility for local municipalities. He doesn’t want the state micromanaging every zoning decision in every town, but he acknowledges that restrictive zoning is a barrier to affordability.

Marx is more skeptical. He worries that "density" is being sold as a solution without addressing the root causes of high construction costs.

"We’re building houses, but they’re too expensive for the average family," Marx says. "If we don’t fix the cost of materials and labor, density won’t help."

Kirkmeyer, with her agricultural background, sees housing through the lens of land use. She co-owned a dairy farm before entering politics, and she understands the value of open space versus development.

"We need to balance growth with preservation," Kirkmeyer says. "But we can’t let zoning laws strangle development."

The Data Center Question

Data centers are a major issue for the state’s budget and energy grid. The candidates disagree on whether they should get tax credits.

Bottoms says yes, but with conditions. He wants the tax incentives tied to job creation and infrastructure upgrades.

Marx is more cautious. He worries that tax credits are just a subsidy for big tech.

"If they want credits, they should pay for the roads and power lines they’re using," Marx says.

Kirkmeyer supports regulation. She believes the state needs a clearer framework for how data centers fit into the broader energy picture.

What It Means for the West

For folks on the Western Slope, these aren’t just abstract policy debates. They affect property taxes, road maintenance, and the cost of living.

The primary on June 30 will narrow the field to one. That person will then face the Democratic nominee in the general election.

The question is whether the GOP can unify behind a candidate who can bridge the gap between the state’s urban centers and its rural communities.

As Marx puts it, "We need a governor who understands that Colorado isn’t just Denver. It’s not just the mountains. It’s the whole state."

The race is wide open, and the issues are clear.