Phil Weiser
Direct responsePositions confirmed by the campaign for publication, June 26, 2026.
- ✗ NoPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Prefers to implement the 2026 AI laws first.
Pledge scorecard
Where the candidates stand
Colorado AI asked every candidate for Governor, Attorney General, and U.S. Senate to take the same ten pledges. The pledges: build the AI economy, run the state on AI, and protect Coloradans from real harm.
Colorado is fortunate, as our candidates understand AI better than leaders in almost any other state, and Colorado AI will work with whoever wins each race.
Through the election cycle, we support the candidates we trust most on vision and current policy. Below is where every candidate stands, and who we recommend.
Who we recommend
Colorado AI supports the candidates who are most aligned with the movement.
Governor
Phil Weiser
He aligned with nine of the ten pledges, the most in the race, supporting Colorado's path to lead the AI economy, run the state on AI, and protect Coloradans from real harm.
Attorney General
Michael Dougherty
He is the only attorney general candidate to respond, and he aligned with all ten pledges, asking only for a review of current law before the private-enforcement tool the next attorney general would carry.
How to read this
- ✓ YesClear position for
- ✓ Yes*Qualified or partial
- ✗ NoClear position against
- UnknownNot stated or outside office
A direct response means the candidate sent positions to Colorado AI. Otherwise each pledge is scored from the public record, Yes or No only on a clear position.
Governor
Governor · Democratic
| The ten pledges | Phil WeiserRecommendedDirect response9 Yes · 1 No | Michael BennetDirect response6 Yes · 2 Yes* · 2 No |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | ||
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Govern | ||
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Protect | ||
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* |
| Council | ||
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
Where they stand
Michael Bennet
Direct responsePositions provided by the campaign, June 26, 2026.
- ✗ NoPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Prefers federal, not state, regulation of AI.
- ✓ Yes*NIST safe harbor with right to cure. A qualified yes to some form of sandbox for good actors.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Open to data-center guardrails tied to the net-zero-by-2050 goal.
- ✗ NoAI council within 90 days. Prefers federal, not state, regulation of AI.
Governor
Governor · Republican
| The ten pledges | Scott BottomsFrom the record3 Yes · 1 No · 6 Unknown | Barb KirkmeyerFrom the record1 Yes · 9 Unknown | Victor MarxFrom the record2 Yes · 3 Yes* · 5 Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | |||
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | ✓ Yes | Unknown | ✓ Yes* |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | Unknown | Unknown | ✓ Yes* |
| Govern | |||
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | ✓ Yes | Unknown | ✓ Yes |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Protect | |||
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | ✗ No | Unknown | ✓ Yes* |
| Council | |||
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Where they stand
Scott Bottoms
From the recordPlatform: lead in AI through innovation and economic growth, AI literacy and career readiness in schools, cut licenses and permits, broad deregulation; supports light, local data-center rules.
- ✗ NoRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Wants data centers only lightly regulated and left to local control, not clear statewide standards.
Barb Kirkmeyer
From the recordPlatform: sponsored the 2026 AI-law rewrite (SB 26-189); broad deregulation and a Regulatory Bill of Rights.
Victor Marx
From the recordPlatform: expedited one-stop permitting, advanced manufacturing, apprenticeships, all-of-the-above energy, cybersecurity, and data centers held to water, energy, and grid standards. No specific AI policy.
- ✓ Yes*Apprenticeship-led workforce and AI training. Supports apprenticeships and workforce pipelines in technology and the trades; AI training not specified.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable energy and clean water buildout. Supports renewables (wind, solar, geothermal) within an all-of-the-above energy strategy, plus clean-water stewardship.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Says data centers must meet water-use, energy-sourcing, and grid-impact standards, but warns against over-regulation.
Source: Victor Marx campaign platform
Attorney General
Attorney General · Democratic
Several pledges are actions a Governor would take, so they read as Unknown for a candidate seeking a different office.
| The ten pledges | Michael DoughertyRecommendedDirect response9 Yes · 1 Yes* | Jena GriswoldFrom the record2 Yes* · 8 Unknown | David SeligmanFrom the record1 Yes · 1 Yes* · 8 Unknown | Hetal DoshiFrom the record1 Yes* · 9 Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ||||
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Govern | ||||
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protect | ||||
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | ✓ Yes* | ✓ Yes* | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* | ✓ Yes* | Unknown |
| Council | ||||
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | ✓ Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Where they stand
Michael Dougherty
Direct responsePositions from the candidate, June 25, 2026.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Supports it, pending a review of current law.
Jena Griswold
From the recordPlatform: says AI must not be used unlawfully and would pursue algorithmic price-fixing, and would make data centers protect water and pay their own way.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Supports enforcement against unlawful AI use and algorithmic price-fixing. Has not endorsed a new private right of action.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Would make data centers protect water and pay their own way. Has not named a renewable or recycling standard.
Source: The Colorado Sun, June 3, 2026
David Seligman
From the recordPlatform: no AI exemption from consumer, civil-rights, worker, or competition laws, helped lead reforms to hold AI systems accountable, and would hold AI data centers accountable for water and pollution.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Supports holding AI data centers accountable for water use and pollution, framed as confronting the biggest AI companies rather than setting build rules.
Hetal Doshi
From the recordPlatform: former federal antitrust litigator who sued RealPage over its rent-setting algorithm, and says it is too early to judge the state AI law.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Sued RealPage over its rent-setting algorithm and would keep prioritizing such cases.
Source: The Colorado Sun, June 3, 2026
Attorney General
Attorney General · Republican
Several pledges are actions a Governor would take, so they read as Unknown for a candidate seeking a different office.
| The ten pledges | Michael J. AllenFrom the record10 Unknown | David WillsonFrom the record2 Yes* · 8 Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | ||
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | Unknown | Unknown |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | Unknown | Unknown |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | Unknown | Unknown |
| Govern | ||
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | Unknown | Unknown |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protect | ||
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | Unknown | ✓ Yes* |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | Unknown | Unknown |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | Unknown | ✓ Yes* |
| Council | ||
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | Unknown | Unknown |
Where they stand
Michael J. Allen
From the recordPlatform: El Paso County district attorney whose campaign centers on crime, fentanyl, and water rights, and who frames AI data centers as a competitive challenge with global stakes rather than stating an enforcement or standards position.
Source: KKTV 11 News, June 23, 2026
David Willson
From the recordPlatform: cybersecurity attorney wary of AI who wants smart boundaries so people are protected, and would address data centers' strain on Colorado water.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Wants smart AI boundaries so people are protected and jobs are not lost.
- ✓ Yes*Renewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Says data centers will strain Colorado's water and that must be addressed. Has not named a renewable or recycling standard.
Source: KKTV 11 News, June 23, 2026
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate · Democratic
Several pledges are actions a Governor would take, so they read as Unknown for a candidate seeking a different office.
| The ten pledges | John HickenlooperFrom the record3 Yes · 2 Yes* · 5 Unknown | Julie GonzalesFrom the record1 Yes · 2 Yes* · 1 No · 6 Unknown |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | ||
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | ✓ Yes | Unknown |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes* |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Govern | ||
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | Unknown | Unknown |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | Unknown | Unknown |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | Unknown | Unknown |
| Protect | ||
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | ✓ Yes* | ✓ Yes* |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | ✓ Yes* | Unknown |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | Unknown | ✗ No |
| Council | ||
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | Unknown | Unknown |
Where they stand
John Hickenlooper
From the recordRecord: U.S. senator who helped write the CHIPS and Science Act that funded Colorado's quantum hub, leads bipartisan NIST-based AI standards bills, and supports holding AI companies liable when their products harm children.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Supports federal AI regulation and making companies liable when their products harm children.
- ✓ Yes*NIST safe harbor with right to cure. Leads NIST-based AI standards and third-party evaluation bills, the foundation of a good-actor safe harbor.
Source: The Colorado Sun, June 1, 2026
Julie Gonzales
From the recordRecord: state senator who supports strong federal AI regulation, worker protections, accountability for discriminatory and price-fixing systems, and a data-center moratorium until strong rules exist.
- ✓ Yes*Apprenticeship-led workforce and AI training. Supports retraining for workers displaced by AI and apprenticeships in renewable energy.
- ✓ Yes*Private right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Supports AI accountability and fought algorithmic price-fixing that raised rents.
- ✗ NoRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers. Supports a moratorium on data centers until strong AI rules exist, rather than standards that let builders proceed.
Source: Colorado Newsline, June 9, 2026
U.S. Senate
U.S. Senate · Republican
Several pledges are actions a Governor would take, so they read as Unknown for a candidate seeking a different office.
| The ten pledges | Mark BaisleyFrom the record1 Yes · 1 No · 8 Unknown |
|---|---|
| Lead | |
| Secure federal investment across photonic chips, quantum computers, and fusion reactorsFederal investment in photonic chips, quantum, fusion | Unknown |
| Build an apprenticeship-led workforce and broad AI trainingApprenticeship-led workforce and AI training | Unknown |
| Build the renewable energy and clean water the AI economy depends onRenewable energy and clean water buildout | Unknown |
| Govern | |
| Deploy AI across state agencies to raise service, cut costs, and catch fraud before it happensAI across state agencies, fraud caught early | Unknown |
| Process routine licenses, permits, and registrations much fasterFaster licenses, permits, and registrations | Unknown |
| Use AI to review every outdated rule and reduce unnecessary and over-regulationAI rule review to cut over-regulation | ✓ Yes |
| Protect | |
| For named and known harms only caused by AI companies, establish a private right of action against the AI companies as well as allow attorney general enforcement, specifically limited to the named harms, with penalties matched to the harmPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms | ✗ No |
| Create a safe harbor for good actors who adopt the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and publish their safety practices, with a right to cure and protection from the named-harm lawsuits when they followed best practicesNIST safe harbor with right to cure | Unknown |
| Set renewable-energy and water-recycling standards for AI data centers, so builders know the rules and can buildRenewable-energy and water standards for AI data centers | Unknown |
| Council | |
| Convene the Council for the Advancement of AI within 90 days of taking officeAI council within 90 days | Unknown |
Where they stand
Mark Baisley
From the recordRecord: state senator and self-described tech innovator who sponsored a 2025 bill to repeal Colorado's 2024 AI Act, serves on the legislature's AI Impact Task Force, and favors light-touch regulation.
- ✗ NoPrivate right of action and AG enforcement on the named harms. Opposes AI-specific liability and favors light-touch regulation, having sought to repeal Colorado's AI Act.
Method and sources
A direct response means the candidate sent positions to Colorado AI, scored pledge by pledge. A platform score means the candidate did not respond, so we read their public record and mark Yes or No only on a clear position, sourced and never inferred.
The matrix shows each position at a glance. The write-up under each race explains the qualified and declined positions in the candidate's own terms, with the source.
The pledge wording comes from the Colorado AI framework, and candidate rosters are the Colorado Secretary of State certified list. The pledges are a recommendation to each candidate, never a mandate.
Colorado AI is a nonpartisan AI policy and advocacy movement. This page is published by Colorado AI and is not authorized by, or coordinated with, any candidate or committee. Questions: paul@coloradoai.us.