Attorney General Phil Weiser speaks during an election watch party for his gubernatorial campaign on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Denver. (Timothy Hurst/The Denver Post via AP)

DENVER (VINnews) — Jewish Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic primary for governor Tuesday, defeating U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and becoming the favorite to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis in November.

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The son of a Holocaust survivor born shortly after the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp, Weiser has been a prominent voice against antisemitism and a strong supporter of Israel throughout his time as the state’s attorney general.

With most votes counted, Weiser led Bennet by roughly 55% to 45% in a closely watched primary between two candidates with family ties to Holocaust survivors.

A former official in the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, Weiser has served as Colorado’s attorney general since 2019. During the campaign, he and Bennet shared similar policy positions, with both emphasizing their willingness to challenge President Donald Trump.

“In the face of a lawless bullying Trump administration trying to intimidate us, rip away our rights and freedoms, you made it clear that we need a leader who will fight back and never bend the knee,” Weiser told supporters during his victory speech.

Bennet congratulated Weiser after conceding the race, telling supporters that “sometimes the harder path is the right path, even when it doesn’t lead where you’d hoped.”

Weiser has repeatedly condemned antisemitic violence, including the 2025 firebombing attack in Boulder, and has described himself as a Zionist, saying support for Israel’s right to exist is compatible with criticism of specific Israeli government policies.

Elsewhere in Colorado, John Hickenlooper defeated state Sen. Julie Gonzales in the Democratic Senate primary. Gonzales had campaigned for ending U.S. military aid to Israel.

In Colorado’s competitive 8th Congressional District, state Rep. Manny Rutinel defeated Shannon Bird, who was backed by Democratic Majority for Israel, to win the Democratic nomination.

Weiser will face the Republican nominee in the November general election.