On a talk radio appearance last week, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer (R-Weld County) said that she would not support Victor Marx, her opponent in the Republican gubernatorial race, if he wins the party’s nomination in the June 30 primary election.
“It would be very difficult for me to support someone that I have absolutely no respect for, that I don’t think is fit for the job or qualified even to be governor of the state of Colorado,” said Kirkmeyer on May 20 in response to a question from one of the hosts of 710 KNUS’s “The Jeff and Bill Show” on why she would not support Marx if he wins the race. “I don’t think he’s good for our party. I don’t think he is good for the state of Colorado. I think he will lead us down the wrong path.”
Kirkmeyer, who has campaigned on her experience and legislative record since entering the crowded gubernatorial race in September, criticized her opponent’s refusal to participate in debates before the primary election and pointed to statements he has made regarding the state’s budget as evidence that “he doesn’t understand how government works.”
As a member of the Joint Budget Committee, the group of legislators in charge of the state’s budget, Kirkmeyer went on to say that her knowledge of the Statehouse is what’s needed to win against the Democratic candidate in November’s general election.
“We need to have somebody who can actually compete against Bennet or Weiser and possibly win a general election,” said Kirkmeyer. “That’s going to take somebody who knows how to govern, who understands how government works.”
Kirkmeyer also clarified that her refusal to support Marx did not mean that she would instead support a Democrat, but said she would wait to see who was on the ballot before deciding whether to abstain from voting for a gubernatorial candidate in the general election.
The veteran Republican lawmaker faced criticism over her statements, with one listener calling in later on the program to tell her that her stance on Marx disqualified her as a candidate in his eyes.
“You showed that you’re not capable when you said you wouldn’t vote for Victor Marx or support him if he won the nomination,” said one caller. “See, that’s an untenable position because Victor Marx would be superior versus [Democrats Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser], there’s no question that he would do a much better job. How could you not support him?”
