Colorado voter guide 2026: Key dates, candidates and ballot measures for Nov. 3

By Óscar Contreras | Denver7

DENVER — Colorado voters will make their voices heard in the 2026 midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in what’s expected to be an important year for state politics with more than a dozen initiatives on the ballot, a few key district races that will decide control of Congress, and a high-stakes gubernatorial race. 

Registered voters will start receiving their ballots in the mail in less than a week and will have until Oct. 26 to mail them back. After that date, Coloradans will have to place them in a drop box, drop them off at a voter center, or vote in person on Election Day. Polling places will open starting at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Before we get into what you’re voting on this year, let’s highlight the key things and upcoming dates to remember:

• Friday, Oct. 2: First day that mail ballots for the 2026 General Election may be mailed to voters, except for military and overseas voters.
• Monday, Oct. 12: First day drop boxes will begin to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election.
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Last day to submit an application to register to vote in the 2026 General Election through a voter registration drive.
• Monday, Oct. 19: Counting of mail ballots may begin and the first day county drop boxes must be open to accept mail ballots for the 2026 General Election. No results may be disclosed until after 7 p.m. on Election Day.
• Monday, Oct. 26: Last day for Coloradans to submit an application to register to vote through the mail and still receive a ballot in the mail for the 2026 General Election. 
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 — Election Day: Not registered to vote? You can register to vote in person at the closest polling center in your county if you’re in line before 7 p.m. 
• Thursday, Nov. 5: Last day for county clerks to send missing signature, signature verification, and missing ID letters and emails.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: Last day to fix any issue with your ballot before it can be counted (for example, you forgot to sign it or election officials need to confirm your signature), and the last day for ballots cast by military and overseas electors to be received by the county clerk in order to be counted for the 2026 General Election.

Have questions about registering to vote? The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office’s FAQ is there to help. 

If you fill out your ballot but forget to mail it back, the Colorado Secretary of State’s website has a ballot drop-off locator you can access here. Denver voters can find their nearest ballot drop-off location (as well as nearest voting center and mobile vote centers) by clicking here.

Now let’s look at who’s going to be on your ballot this November across the state. 

Colorado governor

The big ticket race this year is, of course, the Colorado gubernatorial seat.

Gov. Jared Polis, who was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022, is ineligible to run again as the position is limited to two consecutive four-year terms. 

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who outperformed U.S. Senator Michael Bennet during the June primaries, is hoping to continue riding Colorado’s gubernatorial blue wave, but Victor Marx, an evangelical ministry leader, is vying to turn the tide toward Republicans come November. 

Denver7 hosted debates for candidates of both parties earlier this year.

Watch the GOP gubernatorial debate here | Watch the Democratic gubernatorial debate here

Watch: Democratic gubernatorial primary debate

Among other Colorado governor contenders are Eric Mulder for the Libertarian Party; Jeff Peckman for the Unity Party; Stephen Hamilton for the American Constitution Party; Erik Underwood for the Approval Voting Party; and Greg Lopez as an unaffiliated gubernatorial candidate. 

U.S. Senate 

John Hickenlooper

Democratic U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper is no stranger to Colorado politics. He’s a former Colorado governor, Denver mayor and fixture in the craft beer scene.

Mark Baisley

On the Republican side of the race is State Sen. Mark Baisley, who is running unopposed in his primary.

Other candidates

Blake Huber is running for the Libertarian Party; Robert Chew is running for the Colorado Forward Party; and Adam Withrow is running for the Unity Party. 

Meet the candidates asking for your vote to either keep or snag a Senate seat

Colorado Attorney General

Weiser’s win over Bennet to become the next Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate left a gap that will have to be filled for Colorado’s top prosecutor seat. 

After a crowded race for the AG seat earlier this year, Coloradans chose Secretary of State Jena Griswold to run on the Democratic ticket, while Michael Allen is running for the Republican Party.

Meet all of the candidates from both parties who want to be Colorado’s next AG

Colorado Secretary of State

Since Griswold is vying to become the next state attorney general, the Colorado Secretary of State will need a replacement.

On the Republican side for that seat is James Wiley, a Colorado Springs native who has worked as a political consultant and served as the director of Project Thaler, director of Save Our Suffrage, and secretary of Wave of Hope, according to Ballotpedia.

Amanda Gonzalez beat out Jessie Danielson for the seat on the Democratic Party side following the primaries this summer.

The Libertarian Party candidate for the Secretary of State’s office is Alex Astley.

State Treasurer 

Jeff Bridges will run for the Colorado Democrat seat for Treasurer in November, while Kevin J. Grantham will vie for the GOP seat.

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