Both a Democratic Socialist and a Republican ministry leader who worked with James Dobson will be on Colorado’s ballot this November. But primary voters rejected candidates affiliated with Ryan Dobson and health-and-wealth preacher Andrew Wommack in last week’s state primaries.
Melkat Kiros
Melkat Kiros, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, won a spot on the ballot over 15-term U.S. House incumbent Diana DeGette. She will be the Democratic nominee for Colorado’s First Congressional District. Kiros ran to the left of DeGette, who considers herself a progressive.
Kiros will face Christy Peterson, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. In her biography, Peterson says of herself: “I’m a conservative that believes in our God-given freedoms, Republican principles, preserving our American freedoms, allowing free markets, keeping low taxes for all, boosting a strong U.S. economy, peace through strength, opportunity for all, while standing up for everyday Americans.”
Kiros’ surprise victory over DeGette came just days after two Democratic Socialists won House primaries in New York City.
Also, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser beat three-term U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and will advance to November’s race as the Democratic candidate for governor. He will face Republican nominee Victor Marx, an ex-Marine who once worked as an assistant to James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Marx said his lack of government experience is a plus.
Victor Marx
Marx eked out a narrow win over two political veterans for a spot on the November ballot despite widespread questions about his truthfulness. He defeated state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, who has won office and served as a GOP leader for nearly three decades.
Coming in a distant third was state representative and Assemblies of God pastor Scott Bottoms, who claimed state leaders are concealing in a massive pedophile plot but said he would only reveal evidence once elected.
Both Kirkmeyer and Bottoms said they would not support Marx, who has been accused of telling tall tales about his life and ministry exploits. Kirkmeyer, whom GOP leaders considered “the adult in the room,” called Marx unfit for office. Bottoms called him a “con man.”
Encouraged by Focus executives to tell his story of overcoming extreme child abuse, Marx founded With God All Things Are Possible, or ATP Ministries, in 2003. He has created videos and books filled with amazing claims that flourished in evangelical circles but wilted when exposed to media scrutiny. Marx has claimed he:
- Was forced by his stepfather to kill a man at age 7
- As a civilian called in a U.S. military airstrike that killed 70 ISIS fighters
- Rescued 45,000 women and children in high-risk raids
- Was the first American into Gaza during the war with Israel.
Marx, who was endorsed by far-right U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, retired Gen. Mike Flynn and guitarist/activist Ted Nugent, used his fundraising experience to take an early lead in money and assemble a strong team.
Marx spoke to more than 12,000 voters in churches shortly after the IRS said it would no longer prosecute violations of the Johnson Amendment barring nonprofits from political endorsements. But he skipped nearly all the GOP debates.
He showed up for one debate in which moderator and TV news reporter Kyle Clark asked, “How should voters decide if you’ve lived one of the most extraordinary lives in human history or whether you’re a liar and a fraud?”
Marx hedged, cited his videos, and said, “The proof is just in people.” Marx also cited his dog, who stood by his feet during the debate, asking, “Is she lying, too?”
“The dog’s not running for governor,” replied Clark.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the nation’s first openly gay governor, is term limited. Pollsters favor Weiser over Marx in a state that has elected only one GOP governor in the past half century.
Primary voters also rejected primary candidates affiliated with Ryan Dobson, son of James Dobson, and health-and-wealth preacher Andrew Wommack.
Troy Vanderhule is CEO of Dobson Philanthropic, founded by Ryan Dobson. Vanderhule won only about a quarter of the votes for Colorado House District 14. Dobson Philanthropic claims it can help ministries raise donations without asking for funds, citing a single “case study,” Focus on the Family.
Voters also rejected Jamie Koch, a graduate of Andrew Wommack’s Charis Bible College who now directs its practical government school. “I refuse to sit back while our state continues to trade freedom for control, faith for fear and truth for convenience,” Koch said in one interview. She received about 35% of votes in the race for state House District 16.