FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2026

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Phil Weiser Dominates Michael Bennet in First Televised Debate in Colorado Governor’s Race

Weiser Slammed Bennet for Voting for More Trump Cabinet Members Than Almost Any Other Democrat in Senate 

Weiser Exposed Bennet’s Washington-Style Campaign Powered by Out-of-State Billionaires

DENVER, CO – Attorney General Phil Weiser dominated his primary opponent, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, in the first televised debate in the Democratic primary for governor of Colorado tonight, slamming Bennet time and again for voting to confirm more of Trump’s cabinet members than almost any other Democrat in the Senate. Weiser also exposed Bennet as running an establishment, Washington-style campaign powered by out-of-state billionaires – and Weiser laid out his vision for fighting for a brighter future for all Coloradans.

“Phil Weiser’s commanding performance on the debate stage tonight made the choice in this race crystal clear: Phil Weiser is the candidate of Colorado, and Michael Bennet is the candidate of Washington and Congress,” Weiser campaign spokesperson Nate Jackson said. “Phil is powered by unprecedented Colorado grassroots support, and Michael Bennet is running an establishment, Washington-style campaign powered by a Super PAC funded by dark money and out-of-state billionaires’ checks. After watching tonight’s debate, Coloradans must ask: Which candidate will be beholden to billionaires and special interests, and who will stand up and fight for you?” 

Weiser’s dominant debate performance comes as his campaign’s grassroots momentum continues to surge. This week alone, Weiser’s campaign: 

• Announced a historic $6 million fundraising total – with 93% of donors from Coloradans – officially breaking the record for most money raised by a non-self-funding statewide candidate in Colorado history;
• Launched “Future” – the campaign’s second TV ad – and remained the only campaign in the Democratic primary for governor to be up on the air with TV ads (A Super PAC supporting Bennet – not his campaign – is paying for Bennet TV ads); and
• Dropped BennetVotes.com highlighting Bennet’s out-of-touch votes for Trump nominees.

“Coloradans deserve to know the facts: Michael Bennet has voted to confirm more of Trump’s cabinet members than almost any other Democrat in the Senate,” Weiser’s campaign manager Anna Huck said. “Despite all the warning signs, including the Project 2025 transition plan, Michael Bennet still supported Trump’s dangerous, far-right enablers who swiftly began Trump’s campaign of revenge against Colorado immediately after being confirmed. That includes callous acts like trying to force 600,000 Coloradans to go hungry, keeping dirty coal plants open, and selling off our public lands. Michael Bennet enabled them – Phil Weiser fought them.” 

BennetVotes.com features six Trump nominees that Bennet voted to confirm, including:

Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary: Bennet voted to confirm Rollins as agriculture secretary despite her well-known, extreme record shaped by leading far-right MAGA think tanks that prioritized corporate interests and culture wars over public health, safety, and working people. As agriculture secretary, Rollins has acted to withhold funding for food assistance and taken other actions to harm Colorado – and, stunningly, Bennet still says that he stands by his vote for Rollins.

Doug Burgum, Interior Secretary: Bennet voted to confirm Burgum to oversee our national parks and public lands. As Trump’s interior secretary, Burgum is dismantling environmental safeguards to enrich fossil fuel interests, gutting Biden-era climate and conservation rules, opening millions of acres to drilling, and firing hundreds of National Park staff – all while forcing parks to operate while dangerously understaffed. 

Doug Collins, Veterans Affairs Secretary: Bennet voted to confirm Collins as Trump’s Veteran Affairs secretary, who then tried to eliminate over 80,000 VA jobs, which veterans groups warned would gut essential services for veterans. Bennet’s fellow Democrats blasted the decision as a “shameful betrayal,” citing early layoffs, including Colorado combat veterans and social workers helping the homeless being terminated.

Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary: Bennet voted to confirm Duffy as transportation secretary, who has furthered the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, undermined electric vehicle infrastructure funding, and abandoned critical airline passenger protections, ending a plan to require airlines to pay travelers when their flights are delayed or cancelled. 

Chris Wright, Energy Secretary: Bennet voted to confirm Wright, an oil and gas CEO and major Trump donor, as energy secretary. Wright has dismissed climate change as overblown, claimed climate change could be “positive,” and slashed key clean energy initiatives, including 24 federally funded projects and $15 billion in green energy investments. Wright created an illegal secret panel to produce a report that served as the basis of the Trump administration’s plans to stop regulating climate pollution and laid off scientists at Colorado’s National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and called tax credits for clean energy “nonsense” – all while pushing fossil fuel expansion.

Tom Barrack, Ambassador to Turkey: Bennet was one of only seven Democrats who voted to confirm Barrack, Trump’s Inauguration Committee chairman, to a plum position as a reward by Trump for helping lead Trump’s election campaign. Bennet voted to confirm Barrack despite a laundry list of disqualifying controversies including years as a predatory corporate landlord, business partnerships with felon Paul Manafort, a U.S. Department of Justice indictment, and other conduct.

For more information, visit www.BennetVotes.com.

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