David Zalubowski/AP Photo; Insider
Gov. Jared Polis is running against Republican Heidi Ganahl in Colorado’s gubernatorial race.
This is one of 36 gubernatorial elections taking place in 2022.
Polis’ 2021 wedding marked the first same-sex marriage of a sitting US governor.
Democratic Gov. Jared Polis faces off against Republican Heidi Ganahl in Colorado’s gubernatorial election.
Colorado’s gubernatorial candidates
Polis, the first openly gay man elected as governor in US history, is running for his second term to serve Colorado.
Prior to being elected governor, Polis served on the Colorado State Board of Education and represented Colorado’s 2nd congressional district.
Ganahl, Polis’ challenger, is an at-large member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. She is also the founder of Camp Bow Wow, a multimillion-dollar pet care franchise with more than 130 units across the US and Canada.
Colorado’s voting history
Colorado backed Joe Biden over President Donald Trump in a 13.5 percentage point margin of victory in 2020. The state has voted for the Democratic nominee in the last four presidential elections.
What experts say
The race between Polis and Ganahl is rated as “solid Democratic” by Inside Elections, “solid Democratic” by The Cook Political Report, and “safe Democratic” by Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.