Former Congressman And Gubernatorial Candidate To Leave Republican Party

Former GOP Congressman Greg Lopez, who is running for Governor of Colorado, has decided to leave the Republican Party and continue his campaign as an independent.

“This is not an easy road for me but, at the end of the day, it is the right road,” Lopez said, according to CBS News.

“My values are the same. I’m just changing who I answer to,” he added.

Lopez is hoping to pull voters from both parties in the gubernatorial election.

More below:

3X Colorado gov candidate Greg Lopez (R) is leaving the GOP to run as an unaffiliated candidate. Lopez says he’s not changing his values and positions, which include a ban on abortion, ending the popular vote, and cutting education funding to spur teachers to “be creative.” pic.twitter.com/qEesdO3cAO

— Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) January 6, 2026

CBS News has more:

Instead of a party, he says, he’s answering to the people, 50% of whom are unaffiliated in Colorado.

“What I’m leaving is a two-party system that rewards division versus results,” he said.

He’s also leaving a state party that’s struggling. The Colorado GOP is about $150,000 in debt, and it hasn’t even booked a venue for the state assembly in April.

“Within the next week, we’re going to have a big announcement and we’re going to tell everybody exactly what’s going on,” said Chair Brita Horn.

Horn says a lawsuit filed by supporters of the former chair drained party resources. With the lawsuit now dismissed, she says, the GOP is refilling its coffers.

The Colorado gubernatorial election had another recent shake-up as state Sen. Mark Baisley dropped out of the race to run for U.S. Senate against Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

Breaking News: Colorado State Senator @MarkBaisley announces his candidacy for US Senate in the 2026 election!

“I will not be running for Governor in 2026… I’m running for United States Senate. I’ll be challenging John Hickenlooper…” pic.twitter.com/szMdZtf9Dy

— FreeStateColorado (@FreeStateColor1) January 5, 2026

Colorado Politics shared further info:

The field of Republicans still running for governor includes state Sen. Barb Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton; state Rep. Scott Bottoms, R-Colorado Springs; Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell; Colorado Springs-based ministry leader Victor Marx; former congressional candidate Joshua Griffin; and conservative podcaster Joe Oltmann.

Two of the state’s leading Democrats are running for the job: three-term U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser, who faces term limits.

Lopez’s announcement came a day after formerly independent congressional candidate Matt Cavanaugh said he had affiliated with the Democratic Party for his bid to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th Congressional District.

Lopez is making his third run for governor after losing in the Republican primaries in 2018 and 2022.

Announcing his party switch, Lopez acknowledged that his new status is double-edged.

“This means I won’t appear in a primary ballot. I won’t have party machines behind me. I will have to earn every ounce of trust directly from you, and I’m willing to do that, and it’s a little bit scary,” he said.

Added Lopez: “Colorado doesn’t need another politician who answers to party bosses or national talking points. Colorado needs a governor who wakes up every day asking one question: what actually works for the people of this state.”

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