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When Politico released its updated list of top ten governor’s races in 2018, Colorado, oddly enough, wasn’t included. But make no mistake: not only is Colorado one of the top governor’s races, it also sets the bar for what a competitive election in a democratic society should look like.

The Colorado Independenthas referred to the gubernatorial election as the “race of a generation.” With incumbent Gov. John Hickenlooper leaving office due to term limits, the race has received national attention as a barometer for the direction in which Colorado and national politics will go. The outsized role of the next governor in infrastructure and education spending, as well as approving newly drawn congressional districts, only increases the significance of the race.

Thankfully for Colorado voters, both parties offer a variety of quality candidates across the ideological spectrum in the primaries. And thanks to the newly-passed Proposition 108, ideological diversity is encouraged, as unaffiliated voters can now participate in party primaries to select nominees for what is expected to be a competitive general election.

The outsized role of the next governor in infrastructure and education spending, as well as approving newly drawn congressional districts, only increases the significance of the race.

Rep. Jared Polis and State Treasurer Walker Stapleton are listed as the favorites in the primary, though the race remains highly fluid. As of February, the Democrats are slight favorites, according to the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and political betting markets, while Sabato’s Crystal Ball has rated the race as toss-up. Midterm elections tend to favor the opposition party, and the Republican nominee will likely struggle to distance themselves from President Donald Trump, who sported a meager 36 percent approval rating in Colorado last December.

However, Colorado is known for its independent streak (which both parties demonstrated in the last presidential election), and available polling has demonstrated a high number of undecided voters. In a state where Democratic, Republican, and unaffiliated voters are split nearly evenly, the quality and variety of candidates in the governor’s race makes it the ideal election.

On the Republican side, FiveThirtyEight lists the election as one of the seven potential GOP pickups. Following lackluster fundraising and fears that he would win the primary but throw the general election to a Democrat, proto-Trumpian perennial candidate Tom Tancredo dropped out of the race, leaving the field wide open to several quality candidates.

State Treasurer Walker Stapleton is running on being the only two-term statewide elected Republican, and his ties to the Bush family have proven useful for fundraising. Walker is hedging his bets on his credentials and aspiring to the governorship using the same path taken by the last Republican to hold the office, Gov. Bill Owens.

Attorney General Cynthia Coffman is taking the common path of running for governor as the next step following four years as the state attorney general.

Businessman Doug Robinson is positioning himself as an outsider, though his personal wealth and connections to the Romney family create a unique political dynamic running against the other candidates.

Larimer County Commissioner Lew Gaiter and former state legislator Victor Mitchell have chosen to distance themselves from President Donald Trump, choosing instead to run on their credentials as opposed to ideology. Mitchell has committed to spending at least $3 million of his own money for the election.

As the governor’s race ramps up , the quality and diversity of candidates in both parties, combined with Colorado’s status as a battleground state, make the upcoming election a model for what democratic elections should be.

The Democratic field offers a similar quality and diversity of candidates, though it remains to be seen in the vigorously contested primary if Democrats will opt for the more moderate candidate, in the mold of Hickenlooper, as they traditionally have, or pursue a more ideologically dedicated candidate in the era of Trump.

Representative Jared Polis, whose district contains Fort Collins, is one of the wealthiest members of Congress and has expressed willingness to heavily spend from personal funds to secure the nomination. He has made a point in his campaign of opposing Trump and serving as a “vanguard of the opposition.”

Former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, who was defeated by Stapleton in the 2010 midterms, has snagged several crucial endorsements that will be essential for drumming up support.

Former state legislator Mike Johnston is running primarily on his education experience, which involves advising former President Barack Obama, and on presenting himself among his grassroots supporters as being able to balance progressive values with pragmatic solutions.

Lieutenant Governor and former Kaiser Permanente executive Donna Lynne is similarly running on experience, though her areas of expertise include healthcare serving as the Chief Operating Officer of Colorado.

Finally, businessman Noel Ginsburg is presenting himself as the outsider moderate candidate for the Democrats, also highlighting his efforts in education.

No election is perfect, and the prolific fundraising and spending by candidates in this election is not ideal. Ultimately, however, money does not buy votes, and it does not diminish the fact that both parties feature a large field of candidates who could be capable governors.

As the governor’s race ramps up, the quality and diversity of candidates in both parties, combined with Colorado’s status as a battleground state, make the upcoming election a model for what democratic elections should be.

Josh Silva can be reached at letters@collegian.com or online at @jsflix.