Pueblo County Primary Election 2026 Voter Guide and Contested Races
Registered voters in Pueblo County should have already received their official mail ballots for the upcoming Colorado primary election scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Eligible participants must navigate specific party affiliation rules to cast their votes in this critical midyear nominating contest.
Key Highlights
- The primary election concludes on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, with in-person voting closing at 7:00 p.m.
- Unaffiliated voters may participate in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but are legally barred from voting in both.
- High-profile federal matchups include a 3rd Congressional District Republican challenge and a competitive Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
- Mail-in ballots can no longer be sent via regular postal services and must be returned to one of the 15 secure drop box locations.
Registered Democrats and Republicans are eligible to cast ballots exclusively within their respective parties. Voters who maintain an unaffiliated status possess the legal right to participate in either primary, though they are strictly prohibited from submitting ballots for both parties.
Who’s running in Pueblo County’s local races
A substantial number of primary matchups feature contested races for both major political organizations. However, the vast majority of these competitive campaigns center on positions at the state or federal level.
Within the boundaries of Pueblo County, the Republican Party features just a single contested local race. This legislative primary is for Colorado House District 60, where Michelle Gray faces off against Matt Alexander.
Concurrently, the Democratic Party features two local contested contests. Voters will decide a primary for Colorado Senate District 3 between Taylor Voss and Aaron Gutierrez, alongside a race for Pueblo County sheriff between incumbent David Lucero and Allen Medina.
Whoβs running in the Pueblo County Republican Primary?
Beyond the single localized legislative primary, Republican electors in Pueblo will decide multiple high-stakes primary contests for both state and federal government positions:
In the race for Coloradoβs 3rd Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Representative Jeff Hurd faces a direct primary challenge from Ron Hanks.
The Republican gubernatorial nomination features a three-way battle. The candidates seeking the state’s highest executive office are Barbara Kirkmeyer, Scott Bottoms, and Victor Marx.
For the office of Colorado attorney general, Republican contenders Michael J. Allen and David Willson are vying for the party nomination.
The unopposed Republican candidates appearing on specific localized ballots within Pueblo County include:
Incumbent Zach Swearingen for Pueblo County Commissioner District 3.
Mary Vieth for county clerk and recorder.
Jonathan Ambler for county treasurer.
Tammi Pando for county assessor.
Incumbent Gregory Grahek for county coroner.
Steven Rodriguez for Colorado House District 62.
Dana Charles for State Senate District 3.
Incumbent Sherri M. Wright for the State Board of Education representing Congressional District 3.
Incumbent Ty Winter for House District 47.
Jonathan Post for House District 46.
Whoβs running for the Pueblo County Democratic Primary?
In addition to the competitive race for the state Senate seat left open by departing Senator Nick Hinrichsen and the sheriff matchup, local Democrats face multiple contested state and federal primaries:
For one of the state’s two highly competitive U.S. Senate seats, incumbent Senator John Hickenlooper faces a primary challenge from Julie Gonzales.
Regarding Coloradoβs 3rd Congressional District, Democratic candidates Alex Kelloff and Dwayne Romero are competing to secure their party’s line on the November ballot.
In the gubernatorial contest, sitting Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is campaigning against current U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
The Democratic primary for Colorado attorney general features a crowded four-candidate field consisting of David Seligman, Michael Dougherty, Hetal Doshi, and current Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
For the office of Colorado secretary of state, Amanda Gonzalez is facing a direct primary challenge from Jessie Danielson.
The unopposed Democratic candidates listed on the Pueblo County primary ballot include:
Angela Giron for Pueblo County Commissioner District 3.
Incumbent Candace Rivera for county clerk and recorder.
Incumbent Kim Archuletta for county treasurer.
Naseem Zubi for county assessor.
Zolanye McCulley-Bachicha for county coroner.
Incumbent Matthew Martinez for Colorado House District 62.
Randy Reeves for county surveyor.
Barb Clementi for the State Board of Education representing Congressional District 3.
Vic Meyers for Colorado House District 47.
Incumbent Tisha Mauro for Colorado House District 46.
Kathryn Kester Green for Colorado House District 60.
Libertarians and Unity Party
The Libertarian Party of Pueblo County features a single contested primary race, where Sean Vadney and Alex Astley compete for the secretary of state nomination. Similarly, the Unity Party ballot contains one active contest, pitting Paul NoΓ«l Fiorino against Jeff Peckman for governor.
Here’s how to vote in the primary
Individuals intending to cast a ballot in person on Tuesday must secure a place in line by 7:00 p.m. to exercise their voting rights.
For in-person voting services, Pueblo County operates three dedicated polling locations:
The Pueblo West Branch Library, situated at 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd., Pueblo West.
The Pueblo County Election Office, located on the seventh floor at 201 W. Eighth St.
The Pueblo Library Rawlings Main Branch, found at 100 E. Abriendo Ave.
The recommended deadline to return ballots by mail was June 22, meaning it is now too late to use postal services. Voters must utilize one of the 15 secure, 24-hour outdoor ballot drop boxes located throughout Pueblo County:
The McHarg Community Center at 405 Second St., Avondale.
The Pueblo County Election Office at 201 W. Eighth St.
The Pueblo County Courthouse at 215 W. 10th St.
The Colorado State Fairgrounds at 950 S. Prairie Ave.
The Barkman Branch Library at 1300 Jerry Murphy Road.
The Lamb Branch Library at 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd.
The Routt Avenue MV Drive Thru at 1228 Routt Ave.
Colorado State University Pueblo at 2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo Community College at 900 W. Orman Ave.
Pueblo Rural Fire at 29912 US 50 Business.
The Beulah General Store at 8869 Grand Ave., Beulah.
The Greenhorn Valley Library at 4801 Cibola Drive, Colorado City.
The Pueblo West Library at 298 S. Joe Martinez Blvd., Pueblo West.
The Senior Resource Development Agency at 230 N. Union Ave.
The Pueblo County DHHS Food Distribution Center at 2631 E. Fourth St.
Future Outlook
Political analysts expect the outcomes of the June 30 primaries to significantly reshape local party infrastructure heading into the November general elections. The intense intra-party battles, particularly within the Democratic gubernatorial and attorney general races, highlight shifting ideological demographics across Colorado. Observers note that these internal party divisions echo broader national political shifts, where diverse coalitions continue to challenge established party figures. The results in Pueblo County will serve as a crucial bellwether for voter sentiment in southern Colorado.
FAQs
When is the final deadline to vote in the Colorado primary?
The primary election takes place on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. In-person voters must be lined up at a designated polling center by 7:00 p.m. to cast their ballots, and all drop-box submissions must be completed by this exact time.
Can unaffiliated voters cast a ballot in both major party primaries?
No. Unaffiliated voters in Colorado are permitted to participate in either the Democratic primary or the Republican primary, but they cannot vote in both. Submitting ballots for both parties will invalidate the votes.
Is it still possible to return a primary ballot using the mail?
No, the recommended deadline to safely return ballots via the U.S. Postal Service was June 22. Voters must now drop off their mail ballots at one of the 15 secure, 24-hour outdoor drop boxes located throughout Pueblo County to ensure they are counted.
