Socialists rising in Colorado? Send in the Marines, GOP nominee says

Republican Colorado gubernatorial nominee and Marine veteran Victor Marx is assembling an all-Marine ticket that he says can bring the “steely spines” needed to combat a democratic socialist movement gaining ground in races around the country.

“There’s never been a successful socialism program, and I’ll say socialism, it’s just a transitionary word for communism. Let’s just say it for what it is,” said Marx in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Marx won Colorado’s primary race in June, campaigning on public safety, social conservatism and cost of living. His victory came as the Democratic Party’s left flank scored a series of primary wins nationally, including in Colorado, where democratic socialist Melat Kiros upset longtime incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette. Colorado’s primary results were mixed overall, but Kiros’ victory extended a broader run of wins by progressive and democratic socialist candidates across the country.

Marx’s answer to what he sees as socialism gaining ground nationally — and a leftward shift at home: Send in the Marines. He has tapped retired Marine Col. George Markert as his running mate, creating an all-Marine ticket that Marx says can bring military discipline and “steely spines” to Colorado government.

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“People know what they’re going to get when they get Marines. We’ve got hard foreheads, steely spines. And high integrity,” said Marx.

Markert has spent more than 30 years in the Corps, including senior leadership assignments at U.S. Central Command and the 2nd and 4th Marine Logistics Groups.

Markert transitioned into the private sector, overseeing infrastructure-related field operations across North America.

Marx, who is also the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, is pitching himself and his running mate as political outsiders, arguing that they have the discipline and accountability needed to take on a socialist movement.

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Marx contrasted that approach with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which he described as “organized, they’re well-funded, they are focused on reshaping Colorado from the top down.”

The DSA, which endorsed Kiros, supports the eventual abolition of police — a position that puts public safety at the center of the political divide.

That debate comes as Colorado continues to grapple with crime rates well above national levels.

In 2024, Colorado recorded about 476 violent crimes and 2,593 property crimes per 100,000 residents — roughly 28% and 41% higher, respectively, than the national rates calculated by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics.

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“They’re more focused on policing speech than protecting families. While residents are worried about crime, gang activity, state leaders are advancing this ideology with policies that threaten our free speech and punish people for the beliefs,” said Marx.

Marx took aim at his opponent, Colorado Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser, arguing that increased government spending has not translated into better results for Coloradans.

Weiser has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration in court as attorney general, including over Trump’s efforts to restrict birthright citizenship and immigration-related policies.

“[H]e hasn’t made our state safer. It’s softer on crime, and we’ve experienced it,” Marx said. “So folks are ready for a change.”

Marx said government officials in Colorado are not delivering as “hardworking taxpayers” are “paying more while the government delivers less.”

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“We’re one election away. It’s either me, or it’s a Democrat. And I lay the DSA at the Democrats’ feet. It didn’t come through the Republican Party or Independents. It came through the Democrats,” Marx said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Weiser for comment.