Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx’s debate with his challengers, state lawmakers Barbara Kirkmeyer and Scott Bottoms, during a 9News debate in Colorado's primary garnered national headlines for its fantastical and combative nature. Jared Polis received blowback and a lot of media attention for declining the Club 20 debate, instead Polis later took part in a debate hosted by Rocky Mountain PBS and Colorado Mesa University. “The Republican nominee for governor does not want to come out and discuss western Colorado issues with the people of western Colorado and with Club 20.