Wake Up, CPR: This is NOT Politics as Usual | Colorado Pols
Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx likes to say that he is not a traditional politician and -- golly -- he sure is surprised/dismayed/perplexed by modern politics. It's as much of an act as everything else he's done in his career. As Seth Klamann reported last weekend for The Denver Post:…
August 11, 2026 10:44 AM UTC0 Commentsby: Colorado PolsRepublican gubernatorial candidateVictor Marxlikes to say that he is not a traditional politician and — golly — he sure is surprised/dismayed/perplexed by modern politics. It’s as much of an act as everything else he’s done in his career. AsSeth Klamannreported last weekend forThe Denver Post:Victor Marx is growing a little tired of questions about the demons and the childhood killing. In a podcast interview with his wife last month, the Republican candidate for Colorado governor said he would “sit down and talk about (his past) one final time,” though it was “kind of silly we gotta answer questions. ” After an interview with British commentator Piers Morgan turned into a back-and-forth about Marx’s life, Marx wrote on social media that he’d wanted to talk about his campaign — but instead “much of the interview focused on old narratives and repeated accusations that have already been addressed. ”“I never had anyone dig into the darkest chapter of my childhood until I ran for governor,” he wrote of the interview, after Morgan had questioned stories that Marx’s stepfather had allegedly forced Marx to behead a cat and, later, fatally shoot a man. “That’s just the reality of politics today. ” [Pols emphasis]Marx is trying to pretend that the mean old media is picking on him by looking into his past, but as we havedetailed in this spacefor nearly a year now, Marx has spent the last two decades saying outrageous shit about himself for brand-building purposes. His multi-million dollar “ministry” nonprofit existsbecauseof these stories — from his claim to have killed at man at the age of seven to fantastical andhighly-questionable talesabout “rescuing” victims of sexual assault and “terror” from countries such as Syria and Iraq. [For all of Marx’s faux protesting, it’s worth noting that his campaign would not agree to an interview request with The Denver Post. ]Marx is definitely not a traditional candidate, and there’s no upside to that description. TheCajun Karate Masterseems to be an accomplished grifter and con man who figured he could make money off MAGA rubes in the same way he has been convincing right-wing religious nuts to fork over moneyfor his various stunts. Marx has proved to be incapable and uninterested in engaging in serious policy discussions;his one debate appearance in early Junewas perhaps the single most inane performance by a statewide politician that we’ve ever seen in Colorado. It is particularly baffling, then, whenever local media outlets pretend thatanythinginvolving Marx is just politics as usual. A new story fromColorado Public Radioabout gubernatorial debates reads like it was written by an intern rather than reported by the normally-astuteBente Birkeland:The debate over debates is growing tense. The perennial discussion happens every election cycle, involving the frequency, format, hosts, and participants. This year is no different. [Pols emphasis]No. Just…no. This year is ENTIRELY different. Nothing Birkeland writes next has any correlation with other high-profile campaigns in Colorado this century:For the general election in November, the two campaigns are going back and forth about when and where to hold a face-to-face debate. Marx said he is committed to participating in one gubernatorial debate. “We believe Colorado voters deserve the opportunity to hear the candidates challenge one another directly on their records, ideas, and plans for the future of our state,” he said on social media. However, Marx posted on social media that he has declined an invitation from 9News to participate in a debate slated for the end of September. He said he prefers “a traditional moderated format with timed answers and questions directed by moderators selected by the network. ”Marx said he wants a substantive “candidate-to-candidate conversation without a moderator controlling the questions, topics, or direction of the discussion. ”Marx says he will only participate in a debatewithout a moderator,which DemocratPhil Weiser’scampaign immediately dismissed as unserious…because it is. Jesse Paul, political reporter forThe Colorado Sun, was among those who found Marx’s demand to be inexplicable:Birkeland’s story makes the gubernatorial race debate question look like typical back-and-forth negotiating while COMPLETELY missing the point of what Marx is trying to accomplish here. The reason Marx says he’ll only do one moderator-free debate is because he has no intention of engaging in any sort of debate with Weiser. Marx’s one debate appearancethis cycle was an absolute disaster that proved he knows virtually nothing about government or policy relating to the state he wants to lead. Weiser would make Marx look like a fool if they ever debated. Marx knows this. His campaign knows this. Marx tossed out his “no moderator debate” offer so that he could later claim that it wasWeiserwho refused to debate. By pretending like this is all just politics as usual, CPR and Birkeland let Marx off the hook completely. This isn’t the only story involving Marx that CPR whiffed this week. Today,Tom HesseandRyan Warnerproduced a fun lookat the creative types of merchandise being offered by Colorado campaigns. Victor Marx’s coffee “means business,” at least according to the ad copy on his campaign store. The Republican gubernatorial hopeful appears to be the only Colorado candidate with a food or beverage option. Marx, who has drawn considerable scrutiny in reporting from 9News about his campaign store’s management, sells hats, hoodies, signs, stickers and wrist bands. [Pols emphasis]The campaign offers bundles ranging from $250 to $1,299 with names like the “Take It Back” bundle and the “Governor’s Circle” bundle. The most expensive package has a retail value of $2,040, resulting in a savings of more than $700, according to the campaign. It includes an exclusive Zoom conversation with Marx, two signed copies of his book — “The Victor Marx Story” — three autographed hats and five bags of the Victor Marx Brew Coffee. Once again, CPR blows right past the important part of this story. Saying that Marx “has drawn considerable scrutiny in reporting from 9News about his campaign store’s management”is like saying the “Epstein Files” might be problematic for some people. Marx is openly breaking campaign finance laws, and possibly even committingoutright fraudin a manner that we have frankly never seen before in Colorado. But that Marx-branded coffee sure is clever!Victor Marx is not like other statewide candidates we’ve seen in Colorado…and that’s not a compliment. Colorado Public Radio does its readers and listeners a huge disservice by pretending that the 2026 race for governor is just the same old General Election back-and-forth as any other. Recent CommentsPosts about Donald TrumpPosts about Rep. Gabe EvansPosts about Rep. 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