Marine veteran Victor Marx, whose wild claims – including saying he was forced to kill a man at age 7 – have drawn widespread attention and significant skepticism, will win the Republican nomination for governor in Colorado, CNN’s Decision Desk projects.
Marx, a ministry leader and martial arts enthusiast with a devoted social media following, prevailed over two more experienced rivals, state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer and state Rep. Scott Bottoms, both of whom have said they wouldn’t endorse him if he’s the party’s nominee.
He faces difficult odds, however, in the general election to succeed outgoing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in a state that has not elected a Republican governor in more than two decades. Marx will face Democrat Phil Weiser, the state’s attorney general, in November.
At his election night party on June 30, Marx described his campaign as “nothing shy of beyond incredible,” saying he had taken on Democrats and Republicans alike who brought up questions about his life story.
“This is a battle of good and evil. This isn’t so much parties anymore,” Marx told the crowd. “This is about Coloradans who care and want common sense, less government, stop the spending, get crime under control, let law enforcement do their job, make our state affordable, get people out of the addiction cycle. All these things that matter, that’s what we’ve talked about from the beginning. Our opponents have simply attacked me the entire time.”
