Governor: Victor Mitchell makes ballot, Doug Robinson does not
DENVER, April 20, 2018 -- Secretary of State Wayne Williams announced today former state Rep. Victor Mitchell successfully petitioned onto the primary ballot in the governor's race while fellow Republican Doug Robinson fell short.
As statewide candidates, Robinson and Mitchell were required to gather 1,500 valid signatures from Republican voters in each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts for a total of 10,500 signatures. Robinson, from Centennial, submitted 11,343 valid signatures but didn't collect enough signatures in the 2nd Congressional District. Mitchell, of Castle Rock, submitted 14,515 valid voter signatures.
The office is still reviewing signatures from one more gubernatorial hopeful, Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne, a Democrat.
Williams earlier announced that former Sen. Mike Johnston, a Democrat, and state Treasurer Walker Stapleton, a Republican, had successfully petitioned onto the ballot for governor, but Stapleton withdrew his signatures after learning some petition circulators might not have been Colorado residents, as required. Stapleton successfully got on the ballot at the Republican assembly Saturday as did former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez.
At the Democratic assembly on Saturday, former state treasurer Cary Kennedy and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis received enough delegate support to get on the ballot. Polis had turned in petition signatures, but the review process was halted after his assembly success.
The candidates are vying to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper, who is term limited.
Our office issues a news release after a candidate's signature review is completed, and also updates a list of petition candidates posted on the Secretary of State's web page. The June 26 primary ballot must be set by April 27.