WATCH: MAGA Candidate Builds an All-US Marine Ticket to Lead the Fight Against Democratic Socialist Candidates

Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Victor Marx is responding to the rise of democratic socialist candidates by building a ticket staffed entirely by Marines. The Marine veteran selected retired Marine Col. George Markert as his running mate, arguing that the pair can bring discipline, integrity, and “steely spines” to the state government. Marx also issued a warning about where he believes the socialist movement is attempting to take the country.

Marx made the remarks during an interview with Fox News Digital after securing the Republican nomination for Colorado governor in June. He is running against Democratic nominee and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser in the November general election. Marx’s selection of Markert creates an all-Marine Republican ticket at a time when Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates are winning races in Colorado and elsewhere.

“I’ve traveled the world, and I mean, I was in Cuba not that long ago, and what I saw is horrible,” Marx said. “There’s never been a successful socialism program, and I’ll say socialism—it’s just a transitionary word for communism.” His comments challenged efforts by left-wing candidates to present democratic socialism as a moderate alternative to traditional communism.

As Fox News reported, Marx won the Republican primary after campaigning on public safety, social conservatism, and Colorado’s rising cost of living. The same primary cycle saw democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeat longtime Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette. Kiros received the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America, giving the organization another potential ally in Congress.

Marx argued that his ticket’s Marine Corps background would provide a sharp contrast with the growing socialist faction. “People know what they’re going to get when they get Marines,” he said. “We’ve got hard foreheads, steely spines. And high integrity.” Markert served in the Marine Corps for more than 30 years, including senior leadership assignments with U.S. Central Command and the 2nd and 4th Marine Logistics Groups, before overseeing infrastructure operations in the private sector.

Marx, the founder of All Things Possible Ministries, is presenting himself and Markert as outsiders capable of bringing accountability to Colorado government. He described the DSA as “organized,” “well-funded,” and focused on reshaping the state “from the top down.” Marx said the organization’s influence has made the gubernatorial contest part of a broader fight over socialism, public safety, government spending, and free speech.

Watch Marx’s warning about socialism here:

https://x.com/foxnewspolitics/status/2086407889250595180

Marx also attacked the DSA’s public-safety agenda, pointing to the organization’s support for the eventual abolition of police. Colorado recorded approximately 476 violent crimes and 2,593 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to figures cited by Fox News, placing the state’s rates roughly 28% and 41% above the corresponding national rates. “They’re more focused on policing speech than protecting families,” Marx said. “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.”

The Republican nominee turned to Weiser, who has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration in court as Colorado’s attorney general. Marx argued that greater government spending has failed to produce safer communities or better results for taxpayers. “He hasn’t made our state safer. It’s softer on crime, and we’ve experienced it,” Marx said. “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.”

Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.