2014 Colorado gubernatorial election

The 2014 Colorado gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, concurrently with the election to Colorado's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper and Lieutenant Governor Joseph García were re-elected to a second term in office, narrowly defeating Republican former U.S. Representative Bob Beauprez and his running mate, Douglas County Commissioner Jill Repella, by 68,000 votes.

Democratic primary
John Hickenlooper was the only Democrat to file to run, and thus at the Democratic state assembly on April 12, 2014, he was renominated unopposed.

Nominee

 * John Hickenlooper, incumbent Governor

Republican primary
At the Republican state assembly on April 12, 2014, Mike Kopp and Scott Gessler received 34% and 33% of the votes of over 3,900 delegates, respectively, thus winning a place on the ballot. Greg Brophy, Steve House and Roni Bell Sylvester received 19%, 13% and 2%, respectively, falling short of the 30% needed to qualify for the ballot. Bob Beauprez and Tom Tancredo did not contest the assembly vote, instead petitioning their way onto the ballot.

Declared

 * Bob Beauprez, former U.S. Representative and nominee for governor in 2006
 * Scott Gessler, Secretary of State of Colorado
 * Mike Kopp, former Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate
 * Running mate: Vera Ortegon, biologist and former Pueblo City Councillor


 * Tom Tancredo, former U.S. Representative and Constitution Party nominee for governor in 2010

Eliminated at convention

 * Greg Brophy, state senator
 * Steve House, healthcare consultant and Chairman of the Adams County Republican Party
 * Roni Bell Sylvester, rancher

Withdrew

 * Jason Clark, money manager and independent candidate for governor in 2010
 * Steve Laffey, former Mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island and candidate for the U.S. Senate from Rhode Island in 2006 (running for CO-04)

Declined

 * George Brauchler, Arapahoe County District Attorney
 * Dan Caplis, radio host
 * Cory Gardner, U.S. Representative (running for the U.S. Senate)
 * Jennifer George, attorney
 * Cheri Gerou, state representative
 * Victor Mitchell, former state representative
 * Ellen Roberts, state senator
 * Bob Schaffer, former U.S. Representative, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2004 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2008
 * Lang Sias, former Navy fighter pilot (running for the State Senate)
 * Walker Stapleton, Colorado State Treasurer (running for re-election)
 * John Suthers, Colorado Attorney General

Polling

 * * Poll for the Bob Beauprez campaign

Results
[[File:2014 Colorado gubernatorial Republican primary.svg|thumb|Results by county: {{legend|#e27f7f|Beauprez}}

{{legend|#FFE0EA|20–30%}}

{{legend|#FFC8CD|30–40%}}

{{legend|#FFB2B2|40–50%}}

{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}

{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}} {{legend|#ff9955|Tancredo}}

{{legend|#ffdac1|20–30%}}

{{legend|#ffcca9|30–40%}}

{{legend|#ffb580|40–50%}}

{{legend|#FF9A50|50–60%}} {{legend|#73bc84|Gessler}}

{{legend|#ebf7ee|20–30%}}

{{legend|#d6efdc|30–40%}}

{{legend|#a3d5af|40–50%}} {{legend|#8da9e2|Kopp}}

{{legend|#eef3fd|20–30%}}

{{legend|#dee8fb|30–40%}}

{{legend|#b4c7ec|40–50%}} ]]

Nominee

 * Matthew Hess, IT systems administrator

Candidates

 * Harry Hempy, software engineer and progressive activist

Unsuccessful

 * Bill Bartlett, co-chair of the Green Party of Colorado

Declared

 * Mike Dunafon, Mayor of Glendale
 * Paul N. Fiorino, performing arts teacher and perennial candidate

Withdrew

 * Jim Rundberg, businessman

Candidates

 * Bob Beauprez (R), former U.S. Representative and nominee for governor in 2006
 * Running mate: Jill Repella, Douglas County Commissioner


 * Mike Dunafon (I), Mayor of Glendale
 * Running mate: Robin Roberts, president of Pikes Peak National Bank


 * Paul Fiorino (I), performing arts teacher, former director of the Pueblo Ballet and Independent candidate for governor in 2006 and 2010
 * Running mate: Charles Whitley, retired military, arts advocate and publisher


 * Marcus Giavanni (write-in), internet developer, entrepreneur, musician
 * Running mate: Joshua Yballa


 * Matthew Hess (L), IT systems administrator
 * Running mate: Brandon Young, photographer, graphic designer and political activist


 * Harry Hempy (G), software engineer and progressive activist
 * Running mate: Scott Olson


 * John Hickenlooper (D), incumbent Governor
 * Running mate: Joseph García, incumbent lieutenant governor

Debates

 * Complete video of debate, September 30, 2014 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 6, 2014 - C-SPAN
 * Complete video of debate, October 24, 2014 - C-SPAN

Results
Throughout the night, the race was very close. With 90% of the vote in, Beauprez was about 3,000 votes ahead. The Democrats were holding out hope that Jefferson County would edge them out. When 96% of the vote had reported, Hickenlooper prevailed. Beauprez conceded defeat at 5:48 am on the morning of November 6.

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

 * Archuleta (largest city: Pagosa Springs)
 * Bent (largest city: Las Animas)
 * Chaffee (largest city: Salida)
 * Crowley (largest city: Ordway)
 * Garfield (largest municipality: Glenwood Springs)
 * Grand (largest city: Granby)
 * Hinsdale (largest city: Lake City)
 * Jackson (largest city: Walden)
 * Las Animas (largest city: Trinidad)
 * Mineral (largest city: Creede)
 * Otero (largest city: La Junta)
 * Rio Grande (largest city: Monte Vista)
 * Sedgwick (largest city: Julesburg)

Counties that flipped from Constitution to Republican

 * Baca (largest city: Springfield)
 * Cheyenne (largest city: Cheyenne Wells)
 * Custer (largest city: Silver Cliff)
 * Delta (largest city: Delta)
 * Douglas (largest city: Highlands Ranch)
 * Elbert (largest city: Elizabeth)
 * El Paso (largest city: Coloraado Springs)
 * Fremont (largest city: Canon City)
 * Kiowa (largest city: Eads)
 * Kit Carson (largest city: Burlington)
 * Lincoln (largest city: Limon)
 * Logan (largest city: Sterling)
 * Mesa (largest city: Grand Junction)
 * Moffat (largest city: Craig)
 * Montrose (largest city: Montrose)
 * Morgan (largest city: Fort Morgan)
 * Park (largest city: Fairplay)
 * Phillips (largest city: Holyoke)
 * Prowers (largest city: Lamar)
 * Rio Blanco (largest city: Meeker)
 * Teller (largest city: Woodland Park)
 * Washington (largest city: Akron)
 * Weld (largest city: Greeley)
 * Yuma (largest city: Yuma)

By congressional district
Hickenlooper won 4 of 7 congressional districts, including one held by a Republican.