The Republican nominee for Colorado governor will face either of two well-funded and high-profile Democratic contenders seeking the post in November. It’s a tall task. That should be top of mind for any Coloradan who votes a Republican ballot in the party’s June 30 primary.

And the choice will be clear. The GOP’s one true shot at winning next fall’s gubernatorial race is Barb Kirkmeyer.

Barb Kirkmeyer also is the one candidate in the race who can help the party regain its footing — and its credibility — after years of chaos. No less than its future is at stake.

In other words, the 2026 primary is a critical election for the state GOP in more ways than one. Kirkmeyer stands out on the crowded Republican primary ballot. None of the other hopefuls stands a chance in November. And none of the others can help the party as she can.

It’s why The Gazette’s editorial board endorses Kirkmeyer in her bid for the GOP nomination.

As noted here when our board first endorsed her in March, Kirkmeyer represents a rare blend of mindset and skillset that hits the key notes for her party’s faithful.

She’s rock solid on law and order; on the Second Amendment; against more taxing and spending — you name it. 

She also also extends her appeal far beyond party ranks. 

Currently a state senator representing parts of Weld, Larimer and Broomfield counties, she bridges the partisan gap in the legislature with her formidable knowledge of policy, her ability to reason with the opposition, and her political seasoning. She has scored victories for conservative tenets against all odds at a Capitol dominated by Democrats. 

She is a champion of common sense on the bread-and-butter concerns of most voters regardless of their politics. Notably, she’s a diehard defender of Colorado’s taxpayers.

At the legislature, Kirkmeyer has been a watchdog over Colorado’s fiscal affairs on the powerful Joint Budget Committee. She has been a leader in exposing budget waste and holding the line against reckless, runaway spending. Kirkmeyer has stood up for the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — staunchly supported by Colorado voters of every political stripe — against repeated attempts by the Capitol’s ruling Democrats to sabotage the constitutional provision.

Her crossover appeal extends to her staunch advocacy of law enforcement and public safety  — in a state whose residents crave leadership in fighting crime. She has stood up against the legislature’s assaults on Coloradans’ constitutional right to defend their homes and families against violence, staring down politicians pushing more gun control. And she helped secure more than $1.3 billion in additional funding for Colorado schools, demonstrating Colorado can prioritize its kids while protecting its taxpayers. Kirkmeyer also is a longtime road warrior for funding our state’s overburdened and deteriorating highways.

Those are rock-ribbed conservative positions that make sense — on issues of great concern — to a broad swath of Colorado voters.

Which is to say Kirkmeyer, a small-business woman, dairy farmer, fourth-generation Coloradan and CU grad, wants to do things most Coloradans support: lock up dangerous criminals, fix crumbling highways, and keep the state budget in check. They’re positions that connect with, and unite, rank-and-file voters of almost every political persuasion.

Now, as never before, Colorado’s Republican Party needs such a uniter to restore its own rightful place on Colorado’s political spectrum. The party’s infighting and misadventures on meaningless political tangents have lost the attention of the state’s vast political middle — the unaffiliated voting bloc that now makes up over half of Colorado’s electorate. 

Colorado’s next governor must win the unaffiliated vote. Barb Kirkmeyer is the only Republican who can do that in November — so vote for her this June.