Socialists rising in Colorado? Send in the Marines, GOP nominee says

Key Points:

• Republican Colorado gubernatorial nominee Victor Marx, a Marine veteran, is forming an all-Marine ticket with retired Col. George Markert to counter a rising democratic socialist movement in Colorado and nationwide.
• Marx criticizes socialism as a transition to communism and contrasts his campaign's focus on public safety, social conservatism, and cost of living with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which he accuses of undermining public safety and free speech.
• Marx highlights Colorado's high crime rates compared to national averages and blames Democratic policies, particularly those of Attorney General Phil Weiser, for failing to improve safety despite increased government spending.
• Marx positions himself and Markert as disciplined political outsiders with military backgrounds, promising accountability and a tougher approach to governance amid concerns over socialist influence in Colorado politics.
• The DSA-backed democratic socialist Melat Kiros's primary victory reflects broader progressive gains in Colorado, intensifying the political divide over issues like policing and public safety ahead of the general election.