Scott Bottoms’ Shocking Rise: What His Colorado GOP Win Means for Your Future!

PUEBLO — State Rep. Scott Bottoms emerged as the leading candidate in the Colorado Republican primary for governor during the party’s state assembly this past Saturday. Bottoms garnered an impressive 45% of the approximately 2,200 delegates present, outpacing evangelical pastor Victor Marx, who received 39% of the vote.

To qualify for the ballot in the upcoming primary election, candidates needed to secure the support of at least 30% of the delegates. Marx, however, was allowed to advance with just 10% due to a petition drive that added to his credentials.

The assembly faced a hiccup when it was discovered that about 80 more delegates had cast paper ballots than were credentialed. Al Gage, the state Republican Party’s parliamentarian, assured attendees that there was no suspicion of fraud and the party ultimately accepted the overvotes through a voice vote.

Both Bottoms and Marx are expected to face state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in the primary election. Kirkmeyer opted not to participate in the assembly process, choosing instead to submit signatures for her candidacy, which are currently awaiting verification from the Secretary of State’s office.

Bottoms, who leads the evangelical Church at Briargate, is known for his staunch conservative stances, including supporting election conspiracies and opposing policies aimed at protecting transgender rights. He is also a vocal opponent of abortion. In his nomination speech, he emphasized his commitment to government transparency and outlined plans to build nuclear reactors and mine for lithium and uranium. He stated, “I’m going to reclaim parenthood and childhood for all Coloradans,” and stressed that “sheriffs will work with ICE,” referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Marx, a former Marine and founder of the All Things Possible ministry in Colorado Springs, focused his campaign on issues such as locker room regulations for transgender athletes and business retention in the state. He declared, “We need a leader, not another politician,” and promised to prioritize Second Amendment rights and infrastructure development. Notably, he pledged to free Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk convicted in connection with a security breach of her county's election system.

Delegate Melissa Batt, a resident of Arvada, expressed her support for Marx, citing his disciplined approach and trustworthiness. She believes Marx presents the best chance of defeating Democrats in the general election, especially compared to Kirkmeyer, whom she views as a more moderate candidate.

The assembly was marked by delays, with hundreds of delegates waiting in line for hours to enter the Massari Arena at Colorado State University Pueblo. The decision to use paper ballots, which required machine counting, contributed to the slow pace of the event, with final results not being announced until around 8:15 p.m..

In related news, Michael Allen, the El Paso County District Attorney, secured 64% of the delegates for the attorney general position, while Denver attorney David Wilson received 36%. Both candidates will appear on the ballot this June. Additionally, James Wiley, the former executive director of the Libertarian Party of Colorado, was the only candidate to qualify for the secretary of state primary with 71% of the delegate vote. Wiley's platform emphasizes election security, a topic that resonates with many party members.

The Republican Party has not secured a statewide victory since Heidi Ganahl was elected to a board position in 2016, and has not held the governorship since Bill Owens in 2002. The upcoming primary election is scheduled for June 30, and candidates are expected to intensify their campaigns as the date approaches.