BROOMFIELD — Former state treasurer Cary Kennedy propelled herself into the June primary election for Colorado governor by winning a majority of delegate votes at Democrats’ statewide assembly Saturday, making top line on the ballot as she bested rival U.S. Rep. Jared Polis by nearly double his share of support.

Polis made the ballot, too, taking about 33 percent of the 3,408 delegates’ votes.

Kennedy won nearly 62 percent.

“We’ve been building momentum for this campaign,” she said amid a champagne toast in celebration with her staff after the results came down. “It’s growing all over the state, and today was just a wonderful result. I’m looking forward to the primary in June and giving the voters of Colorado the opportunity to support me for governor.”

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post U.S. Representative Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for Governor, speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Colorado governor Cary Kennedy speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Governor Cary Kennedy speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.



Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Governor Cary Kennedy speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post U.S. Representative Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at FirstBank Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post U.S. Representative Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for Governor, speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.



Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, a Democratic candidate for governor, speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Governor Cary Kennedy speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Governor Cary Kennedy speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.



Justin Edmonds, Special to the Denver Post Democratic candidate for Governor Erik Underwood speaks during the Democratic State Assembly at 1STBANK Center on April 14, 2018 in Broomfield.

Kennedy was first to speak to delegates at a packed 1stBank Center in Broomfield before the vote, touting her performance as state treasurer and the fact that, if elected, she’d be the first woman to become Colorado’s governor. She also called for protecting public education, bolstering efforts to protect the environment and increasing health care options and affordability.

“Stand with me. I am the strongest candidate to win the governor’s race for all of us,” Kennedy said to applause, in an apparent dig at Polis.

She also took on President Donald Trump in a section of speech that had many delegates cheering her every word. She said that she wouldn’t “let Donald Trump take Colorado backwards.”

“I won’t let Trump trash our environment,” she said to loud applause. “I won’t let Donald Trump or (U.S. Secretary of Education) Betsy DeVos privatize our public schools.”

2018 candidates for Colorado governor Who is running for governor of Colorado in 2018?

Polis spoke about how he would be the first openly gay U.S. governor if elected — “Take that (Vice President) Mike Pence!” he called out to loud applause — and his plans to push the state toward using 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2040. He boasted, as well, about his vote in Congress to impeach Trump.

Polis also talked about protecting Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients and taking on Colorado’s Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights to better fund schools.

“My life has been about breaking barriers — turning bold ideas into real results for Colorado families,” he said.

Both Polis’ and Kennedy’s speeches touched on the topic of guns, which Colorado Democrats made clear was among their top issues this year.

Polis — who is working on a congressional assault weapons ban proposal — talked about taking on the National Rifle Association, while Kennedy vowed to “never, never let Donald Trump and the NRA stop us from keeping our kids safe. We will ban military-style assault weapons.”

Polis said he was thrilled with his results Saturday and excited to continue taking his campaign across the state. When asked if delegates’ strong show of support for Kennedy meant there was more work for him to do, he brushed the question aside.

“Our focus was on getting our name on the ballot, which is always what it has been,” Polis said. “So I think we got it done in a way that excited our volunteers and our activists. We’ve collected more signatures than the number of people that even showed up for caucus. People are really reacting well to our message.”

Erik Underwood failed to make the ballot, securing just 5 percent of the delegate vote. A U.S. Senate candidate in Colorado in 2016, when he ran as a Republican, Underwood made the most impassioned case of all the candidates to help rural Coloradans.

Underwood pleaded for support from the gathered delegates, ending his speech in tears.

“I need your vote! I need your vote right now!” he shouted.

Other Democrats running for governor, but seeking to get on the ballot through the petition process, include former state Sen. Mike Johnston and Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne.

Johnston’s signatures have been verified by the Colorado secretary of state, so he has secured a ballot spot in the primary election. Lynne’s signatures are still in the process of being verified.

Polis was going through the petition process, as well, but because he won more than 30 percent of the delegate votes Saturday, it no longer matters.

Many delegates on the floor said the choices they had to make Saturday were excruciating because the candidates across the board are so strong.

“We have an embarrassment of riches to choose from,” said Chris Craft, a Democratic delegate from Craig.

His vote in the governor race went to Polis. “One of my issues is inclusivity, and the fact that he would be the first openly gay governor was appealing to me,” he said.

Kenneth Bloodworth, a delegate from Dolores, echoed the sentiment of facing a tough choice. “I thought I had everybody figured out before I came here,” he said just before voting for Kennedy. “We have an excess of qualified people.”

Mac McGraw, a 65-year-old retired teacher from Fort Morgan, said concern over gender equity issues helped prod him to check the box for Kennedy in the governor’s contest.

“I like the fact that she’s a woman — I have two daughters — I’m very concerned about women’s issues,” he said.

Polis’ sexual orientation was a potential area of concern for a couple of delegates, who feared the issue could taint his appeal in the general election. Nancy York said the prospect of the country’s first openly gay governor could make Polis a harder sell to more conservative voters in November.

“Because he’s gay, he might not win,” said York, a delegate from Custer County.

York said she was nonetheless inspired by the number of supporters Polis had on stage with him Saturday and voted for him.

The prospect of having Colorado’s first gay gubernatorial hopeful also gave concern to Susan Lazo, a delegate from Breckenridge. She voted for Polis on Saturday but wondered if that fact might work against him in November.

Lazo said she would have been pleased with any of the candidates for governor and wrestled with the choices right up until she dropped her ballot in the box. She said she liked Underwood as well but thought he may not be quite ready to run for statewide office.

Representing Pueblo County, delegate S. Douglas McMillan said Kennedy was his choice because “she really emphasizes public education.”

“Public education is the backbone of our economy,” he said.

Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor and other races is June 26.