(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Former Denver district attorney Bill Ritter is the early favourite in Colorado’s gubernatorial election, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. At least 43 per cent of respondents in the Centennial State would vote for the Democrat in head-to-head contests against two rivals.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Former Denver district attorney Bill Ritter is the early favourite in Colorado’s gubernatorial election, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. At least 43 per cent of respondents in the Centennial State would vote for the Democrat in head-to-head contests against two rivals.
Bill Owens—a Republican—has acted as Colorado’s governor since January 1999. The former state treasurer defeated Democrat Rollie Heath in the November 2002 election with 63 per cent of the vote. Owens is ineligible for a third consecutive term in office.
Ritter holds a five-point lead over United States congressman Bob Beauprez, and a 14-point advantage over former president of the University of Denver Marc Holtzman.
On Jun. 9, Denver judge R. Michael Mullins allowed Holtzman to appear on the Aug. 8 Republican primary ballot, as the courts continue to determine whether he was able to submit enough signatures to qualify for the election. Holtzman called the decision “a great victory for democracy and open ballot access.”
The gubernatorial election is scheduled for Nov. 7. Since 1951, the Centennial State has had four Republican and four Democratic heads of government.
Polling Data
Election 2006 – Colorado Governor
Option 1
May 2006 | Jan. 2006 | |
Bill Ritter (D) | 43% | 38% |
Bob Beauprez (R) | 38% | 39% |
Option 2
May 2006 | Jan. 2006 | |
Bill Ritter (D) | 47% | 35% |
Mark Holtzman (R) | 33% | 39% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 500 Colorado adults, conducted on May 25, 2006. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
