Four of Colorado's leading gubernatorial contenders - U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Attorney General Phil Weiser, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer and ministry leader Victor Marx - shared the same stage in Glendale on Thursday, squaring off at a business-focused forum where housing costs and the state's economic climate dominated the conversation.
The hour-long event zeroed in on how each candidate would tackle housing affordability, permitting delays and corporate competitiveness as the June primary creeps closer. Moderated by Colorado Politics editor Luige del Puerto and sponsored in part by 1st Bank/PNC and Land Title Guarantee, the forum also pressed candidates on land use, data centers, energy policy and business recruitment, according to the Denver Gazette.
What They Told Business Leaders
Bennet did not sugarcoat his outlook, telling the room he is “deeply worried about the direction Colorado is headed,” as the state loses businesses and even restaurants while housing prices keep climbing. He argued Colorado can still lean on advantages such as its space sector, defense contracts and tech footprint to rebuild competitiveness, according to the Denver Gazette.
Business Groups And The Venue
Organizers said several hundred commercial real estate professionals and industry leaders turned out for the discussion, which was hosted by a coalition of business groups including NAIOP Colorado, BOMA Denver, Colorado Concern, DMCAR, and ULI Colorado, per Colorado Politics.
The Downtown Denver Partnership's event listing shows the forum, billed as a conversation on “Building Colorado's Future,” took place at the Infinity Park Event Center in Glendale and details the venue and registration setup for attendees, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership.
Housing, Energy And TABOR
Housing affordability surfaced repeatedly as a top economic concern, echoing themes that have run through other candidate forums across the state this spring, according to KUNC.
Marx told the crowd that tackling affordability has to come first and reiterated his pledge to protect TABOR. His campaign platform lays out proposals aimed at shielding taxpayers from hidden fees and preserving voter approval requirements, per Victor Marx for Governor.
Weiser emphasized speeding up permitting and boosting housing supply, with his campaign saying the plan would add 40,000 attainable owner-occupied homes. His energy blueprint calls for expanded solar and transmission capacity to help keep utility costs in check, according to Phil Weiser for Colorado.
Bennet, for his part, said he backs maintaining Colorado's 2050 climate goals while trying to balance affordability and reliability in the energy system, per his campaign plan on Michael Bennet for Governor.
Next Steps
With the June 30 primary closing in, the Glendale forum offered business-minded voters a snapshot of how each candidate says they would handle permitting, housing supply, and the energy transition if elected. Local election calendars show the primary date set for June 30, according to notices from Larimer County.
