2018 Colorado State Treasurer election

2018 Colorado State Treasurer election

←  2014 November 6, 2018 (2018-11-06) 2022  →
Registered	3,953,613
Turnout	64.92%
Candidate Dave Young Brian Watson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,292,281 1,111,641 Percentage 52.23% 44.93%
County results Young:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Watson:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
State Treasurer before election Walker Stapleton Republican Elected State Treasurer Dave Young Democratic

The 2018 Colorado State Treasurer election was held on November 6, 2018, to elect the Colorado State Treasurer, concurrently with elections to the United States House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2018. ^[1] A debate was held by KOAA-TV on October 13, 2018. ^[2]

Incumbent Republican treasurer Walker Stapleton was term-limited and instead was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor. ^[3] Democratic state representative Dave Young defeated Republican entrepreneur Brian Watson in the general election. ^[4]

Republican primary

A convention was held on April 14, 2018, to select primary candidates for the ballot. Justin Everett was selected at the convention, and Brian Watson and Polly Lawrence qualified via petitions. ^[5] Three candidates were eliminated via a floor vote. ^[5]

Candidates

Nominee

• Brian Watson, entrepreneur and CEO of Northstar Commercial Partners ^[6]

Eliminated in primary

• Justin Everett, state representative from the 22nd district (2013-present) ^[5]
• Polly Lawrence, state representative from the 39th district (2013-present) ^[7]

Eliminated at convention

• Brett Barkey, district attorney ^{[5] [8]}
• Brita Horn, treasurer of Routt County ^{[5] [9]}
• Kevin Lundberg, state senator from the 15th district (2009-present) ^{[5] [10]}

Endorsements

Brian Watson

Newspapers and other media

• Greeley Tribune ^[11]

Justin Everett

U.S. representatives

• Ken Buck, U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2015-present) and district attorney of Weld County (2004-2014) ^[5]

State representatives

• Patrick Neville, minority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives (2017-present) and state representative from the 45th district (2015-present) ^[5]

Results

Republican primary results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Brian Watson	171,823	37.97%
	Republican	Justin Everett	167,045	36.91%
	Republican	Polly Lawrence	113,673	25.12%
Total votes			452,541	100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Young, state representative from the 50th district (2011-present) ^[13]

Eliminated in primary

• Bernard Douthit, finance executive ^[14]

Eliminated at convention

• Charles Scheibe, chief financial officer of the Colorado Department of the Treasury ^[15]

Disqualified

• Steve Lebsock, state representative from the 34th district (2013-2018) (became a Republican) ^[16]

Endorsements

Dave Young

Executive branch officials

• Betsy Markey, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Governmental Affairs (2011-2013) and U.S. representative from Colorado's 4th congressional district (2009-2011) ^[17]
• Ken Salazar, former United States Secretary of the Interior (2009-2013), U.S. Senator from Colorado (2005-2009), and Colorado Attorney General (1999-2005) ^[18]

Statewide officials

• Gail Schoettler, former Lieutenant Governor of Colorado (1995-1999) and Colorado State Treasurer (1987-1995) ^[19]

U.S. representatives

• Ed Perlmutter, U.S. representative from Colorado's 7th congressional district (2007-present) ^[17]

State senators

• Steve Fenberg, state senator from the 18th district (2017-present) ^[18]
• Lucía Guzmán, minority leader of the Colorado Senate (2015-present) and state senator from the 34th district (2010-present) ^[18]
• Rollie Heath, majority leader of the Colorado Senate (2013-2015) and state senator from the 18th district (2009-2017) ^[17]
• Daniel Kagan, state senator from the 26th district (2017-present) and state representative from the 3rd district (2009-2017) ^[17]
• John Kefalas, state senator from the 14th district (2013-present) and state representative from the 52nd district (2007-2012) ^[17]
• Andy Kerr, state senator from the 22nd district (2013-present) and state representative from the 26th district (2006-2013) ^[17]
• Dominick Moreno, state senator from the 21st district (2017-present) and state representative from the 32nd district (2013-2017) ^[17]
• Jeanne Nicholson, state senator from the 16th district (2011-2015) ^[18]
• Pat Steadman, state senator from the 31st district (2009-2017) ^[17]
• Gloria Tanner, state senator from the 33rd district (1994-2000) and state representative (1985-1994) ^[19]
• Nancy Todd, state senator from the 28th district (2013-present) and state representative from the 41st district (2005-2013) ^[17]
• Angela Williams, state senator from the 33rd district (2017-present) and state representative from the 7th district (2011-2017) ^[19]

State representatives

• Jennifer Arndt, state representative from the 53rd district (2015-present) ^[17]
• KC Becker, majority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives (2017-present) and state representative from the 13th district (2013-present) ^[19]
• Adrienne Benavidez, state representative from the 32nd district (2017-present) ^[19]
• Janet Buckner, state representative from the 40th district (2015-present) ^[17]
• James Coleman, state representative from the 7th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Jessie Danielson, state representative from the 24th district (2015-present) ^[17]
• Crisanta Duran, speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives (2017-present), majority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives (2015-2017), and state representative from the 5th district (2011-2019) ^[19]
• Daneya Esgar, state representative from the 46th district (2015-present) ^[17]
• Mark Ferrandino, speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives (2013-2015), minority leader of the Colorado House of Representatives (2011-2013), and state representative from the 2nd district (2007-2015) ^[17]
• Mike Foote, state representative from the 12th district (2013-present) ^[17]
• Alec Garnett, state representative from the 2nd district (2015-present) ^[19]
• Joann Ginal, state representative from the 52nd district (2013-present) ^[17]
• Millie Hamner, state representative from the 61st district (2010-present) ^[17]
• Chris Hansen, state representative from the 6th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Edie Hooton, state representative from the 10th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Dominique Jackson, state representative from the 42nd district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Chris Kennedy, state representative from the 23rd district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Pete Lee, state representative from the 18th district (2011-present) ^[17]
• Susan Lontine, state representative from the 1st district (2015-present) ^[17]
• Barbara McLachlan, state representative from the 59th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Dafna Michaelson Jenet, state representative from the 30th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Jovan Melton, state representative from the 41st district (2013-present) ^[17]
• Sal Pace, state representative from the 46th district (2009-2012) and commissioner of Pueblo County ^[17]
• Dan Pabon, state representative from the 4th district (2011-present) ^[17]
• Brittany Pettersen, state representative from the 28th district (2013-present) ^[17]
• Dylan Roberts, state representative from the 26th district (2017-present) ^[17]
• Jonathan Singer, state representative from the 11th district (2011-present) ^[19]
• Tracy Kraft-Tharp, state representative from the 29th district (2013-present) ^[17]

Statewide officials

• Bill Ritter, former Governor of Colorado (2007-2011) and district attorney of Denver (1993-2005) ^[17]

Local officials

• Josie Heath, former commissioner of Boulder County ^[17]

Labor unions

• American Federation of Teachers ^[19]
• American Postal Workers Union ^[19]
• Colorado AFL-CIO ^[19]
• Colorado Education Association ^{[15] [20]}
• Communications Workers of America ^[19]
• Teamsters Local 455 ^[19]

Newspapers and other media

• Greeley Tribune ^[21]

Organizations

• Colorado Foundation for Universal Healthcare ^[18]

Bernard Douthit

Individuals

• Lisa Calderon, activist ^[20]
• Candi CdeBaca, activist ^[20]

Organizations

• Democratic Socialists of America ^[20]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[22]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Young	363,295	67.48%
	Democratic	Bernard Douthit	175,116	32.52%
Total votes			538,411	100.00%

General election

Post-primary endorsements

Brian Watson (R)

Newspapers and other media

• The Mountain Mail ^[23]

Dave Young (D)

U.S. presidents

• Barack Obama, President of the United States (2009-2017) and U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005-2008) ^[24]

Newspapers and other media

• Greeley Tribune ^[25]
• The Denver Post ^[26]
• Yellow Scene ^[27]

Organizations

• Planned Parenthood Action Fund ^[28]

Results

2018 Colorado State Treasurer election ^[29]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Dave Young	1,292,281	52.23%
	Republican	Brian Watson	1,111,641	44.93%
	Constitution	Gerald Kilpatrick	70,475	2.84%
Total votes			2,474,397	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

References

1. Birkeland, Bente (June 28, 2018). "High Turnout For Colorado Primary". KRCC 91.5 FM. Retrieved October 17, 2025.
2. "2018 Colorado elections: How to watch The State Debate". The Denver Gazette. October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
3. "Colorado Governor's Race: Jared Polis Defeats Walker Stapleton And Makes History". Colorado Public Radio. Associated Press. November 7, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
4. Rubino, Joe (November 7, 2018). "Colorado treasurer: Democrat Dave Young wins close race". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
5. Murray, Jon (April 14, 2018). "In Colorado treasurer's race, Justin Everett knocks 3 candidates out of running at GOP assembly". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
6. Paul, Jesse (June 27, 2018). "State Rep. Justin Everett concedes to businessman Brian Watson in GOP primary for Colorado treasurer". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
7. Eason, Brian (October 19, 2017). "In Colorado treasurer's race, GOP Rep. Polly Lawrence sprints out to huge fundraising lead". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
8. Eason, Brian (August 11, 2017). "Prosecutor Brett Barkey enters crowded race for state treasurer". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
9. Paul, Jesse (June 6, 2017). "Brita Horn joins race for Colorado treasurer, hoping to bring her Routt County community involvement ways to the job". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
10. Paul, Jesse (July 31, 2017). "Kevin Lundberg, a top GOP state lawmaker, joins crowded primary for Colorado treasurer". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
11. "Tribune Endorsement: Outsider Brian Watson is our choice for GOP state treasurer nomination". Greeley Tribune. June 5, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
12. "2018 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
13. Paul, Jesse; Skilling, Chaney (June 26, 2018). "Dave Young positioned to win Democratic primary for Colorado treasurer; Justin Everett, Brian Watson locked in close battle". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
14. Goodland, Marianne (June 15, 2018). "Colo. state treasurer candidate seeks records on PERA contracts". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
15. Luning, Ernest (April 13, 2018). "Democrat Dave Young pulls in CEA endorsement in state treasurer's race". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
16. Goodland, Marianne (March 5, 2018). "Expelled Lebsock's joining GOP likely also expels him from Colorado treasurer's race". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
17. Luning, Ernest (December 19, 2017). "Democratic state treasurer candidate Dave Young racks up endorsements from Ed Perlmutter, Bill Ritter and others". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
18. Luning, Ernest (February 14, 2018). "Ken Salazar, state lawmakers endorse Democrat Dave Young for state treasurer". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
19. Silvy, Tyler (June 7, 2018). "Dave Young earns 11 more endorsements as momentum builds in state treasurer race". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
20. Paul, Jesse (May 21, 2018). "Who is running for Colorado treasurer in 2018?: A list and look at the candidates". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
21. "Tribune Endorsements: Recapping our picks for key contested primary races". Greeley Tribune. June 24, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
22. "2018 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
23. "Endorsements". The Mountain Mail. October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
24. "Obama issues second round of midterm endorsements". New York Amsterdam News. October 10, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
25. "Tribune Endorsement: Greeley's Dave Young earns our support for state treasurer". Greeley Tribune. October 20, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
26. "Endorsements: Brauchler for AG, Williams for secretary of state and Young for treasurer". The Denver Post. October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
27. "Election Guide 2018: Treasurer". Yellow Scene. October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
28. "#KeepCOPink: Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado Announces 2018 Midterm Elections Endorsements". Planned Parenthood. August 6, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
29. "2018 General Election Results". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved October 19, 2025.