Kirkmeyer and Bottoms Face Off in First Televised Colorado GOP Governor Debate

Overview

• Barbara Kirkmeyer and Scott Bottoms met in a live, televised debate Thursday hosted by Denver7, CPR News and The Denver Post, while Victor Marx declined to participate.
• Both candidates said they would not seek to change TABOR, the state rule that limits taxes and requires voter approval for increases, and each named property taxes as a top concern.
• The pair split over Medicaid costs after Bottoms claimed the state funds abortions for undocumented immigrants and transgender surgeries, which Kirkmeyer challenged him to locate in the budget.
• Pressed by moderators, Bottoms repeated allegations of widespread pedophilia in state government and acknowledged he had no proof at this time.
• Ballots are set with Bottoms listed first after winning top billing at the GOP assembly, Kirkmeyer and Marx petitioned onto the ballot, two more debates are scheduled for May 26 and June 2, and the primary is June 30.