Denver City Wire

Heidi Ganahl, the Republican nominee for governor of Colorado, recently said there was a great turnout for her debate against incumbent Gov. Jared Polis. Polis did not attend their first debate earlier this month.

"What an amazing turn out at the debate last night! With only 40 DAYS LEFT until the election, I need YOU to help keep this momentum going to take back Colorado," Ganahl wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Ganahl and Polis squared off in a debate for the first time at Colorado State University Pueblo, Colorado Newsline reported. The forum was hosted by the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, and Sara Blackhurst, Action 22 CEO, acted as moderator. The candidates debated key issues including energy policy, public safety, water rights and the role of state government. Polis claimed Ganahl has been too critical of the state of affairs in Colorado and said the governor should function as the state's "chief marketing officer," while Ganahl called out Polis for "soft on crime" legislation that she sees as contributing to the state's problems with fentanyl and car thefts.

Ganahl pointed to Polis’ expansion of the state’s government as a contributing factor to Colorado’s inflation rate, which is higher than the national average, Colorado Newsline reported. 

“The government has grown by 25% under his reign in Colorado. He has added 85 new taxes and fees. He’s added tons of regulations and new social programs on the backs of small business owners,” Ganahl said. Her plan to reduce inflation would include reducing the state’s income tax, implementing a government hiring freeze and conducting a waste-and-fraud audit. Polis argued that inflation is a “global” problem.

Polis declined to attend the first of Colorado's gubernatorial debates, which took place on Sept. 10 in Grand Junction, Centennial State News reported. Ganahl called Polis' absence "unfortunate, but not unexpected."

Ganahl has experience in both the public and private sectors, according to her campaign website. An elected official, she serves on the University of Colorado Board of Regents, overseeing a budget of $5 billion and more than 30,000 employees. She has also served as the chair of the finance committee, the audit committee, the search committee for the new president of CU and has headed campus initiatives regarding free speech and the cost of college.

Inspired by her passion for pets, Ganahl founded the largest pet care franchise in the world, Camp Bow Wow, as well as its sister charity, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation. The foundation rehomed more than 10,000 dogs and raised more than $1 million for animal health causes during Ganahl's tenure. Ganahl also built SheFactor, which is a community that aims to inspire young women to pursue lives they love. Fortune magazine named her one of its 10 Most Promising Entrepreneurs.

Ganahl has been endorsed by a multitude of community leaders, elected officials and law enforcement officers. Her endorsers include Bill Owens, the former governor of Colorado; John Suthers, the mayor of Colorado Springs and former attorney general of Colorado; Steve Reams, the Weld County Sheriff; Maralee Mclean, the executive director of Moms Fight Back; and Cleave Simpson, a Colorado state senator.

Ganahl defeated Greg Lopez in the Republican primary in June and will face off against Polis (D) in the November general election, according to Ballotpedia.