Incumbent
Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
43%
23.5%
Colorado Democratic Senate nominee?
$619.0K
JUL 1, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age74 years old (Feb 7, 1952)
GenderMale
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LocationColorado
BackgroundPolitician
EducationWesleyan University (BA, English)
Notable personal detailsJohn Wright Hickenlooper Jr. is an American politician, geologist, and business owner who has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate since 2021. He previously served as Mayor of Denver (2003–2011) and as Governor of Colorado (2011–2019). Before elected office, he worked as a geologist and later co-founded Colorado’s first brewpub, Wynkoop Brewing Company.
SourcesShowHide
hickenlooper.senate.govcongress.govbritannica.comhickenlooper.comcpr.orgen.wikipedia.orgyahoo.comaol.comcbsnews.compostindependent.comyourtango.comfec.govdocquery.fec.govcoloradopolitics.comafge.orgalamosacitizen.comcnliberalism.orglcv.orggiffords.orgcoloradonewsline.comdenverpost.comphilforcolorado.comyellowscene.comgoogle.comsenate.govwikidata.orgbennet.senate.govforeign.senate.govdailypress.senate.govrosen.senate.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted tax relief for working- and middle-class families while advocating stronger enforcement and tax fairness for large corporations and the ultra-wealthy. Opposes broad regressive proposals like a national sales tax and backs using IRS resources and laws to ensure high-income individuals and big corporations pay their fair share.
Healthcare
Supports strengthening and protecting the Affordable Care Act, expanding coverage through a public option, lowering prescription drug costs, and increasing access to reproductive health care; opposes single-payer/Medicare-for-All.
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Immigration & Border
Supports comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants, restoration of DACA, expanded legal work pathways (including H‑2B/guest worker reforms), and more federal support for cities receiving migrants while also saying the border should be responsibly managed and secured.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports protecting and expanding access to abortion, including codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law and defending access to medication abortion. Advocates legal protections for providers and opposes efforts to ban or severely restrict abortion.
Climate & Energy
Supports strong federal and state action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, advances clean energy investment and technology, and has backed methane regulations for the oil and gas sector while supporting transitional measures. Has supported and helped implement federal programs (e.g., Inflation Reduction Act funding) to accelerate decarbonization and clean energy deployment in Colorado.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports universal/background check expansion, red flag laws, bans on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, and funding community-based violence intervention; has championed and signed state-level gun safety laws and co-sponsored federal background-check legislation in the Senate.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 17, 2026
John Hickenlooper won the Colorado Democratic Senate primary and will face Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley in the general election. Newly filed disclosures show his primary win was boosted by nearly $500,000 in outside spending from a centrist megadonor, Paul Tudor Jones, and a dark-money nonprofit. He had also led in polling and fundraising during the race, including raising nearly $1.4 million and entering the primary as the incumbent candidate.
hickenlooper.senate.gov+30
Articles
WWestword11 days ago
Dark-money, Kent Thiry behind late pro-Hickenlooper PAC spending
Positive
TDThe Denver Post1 month ago
Outside groups give boost to Rep. Diana DeGette against Milat Kiros
Positive
TDThe Denver Post3 months ago
Gabe Evans builds war chest as Democrats raise money for primaries
Positive
TDThe Denver Post3 months ago
Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer qualifies for GOP primary for Colorado governor
Neutral
Polls
Colorado Democratic Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Colorado Democratic Senate nominee?
Endorsers of John Hickenlooper for Colorado Democratic Senate nominee?
LCV Action Fund
Political organization
LCV Action Fund endorsed John Hickenlooper for reelection to the U.S. Senate.
Elizabeth Warren
Public figure
Elizabeth Warren endorsed John Hickenlooper in the Colorado Senate primary.
Colorado Ministerial Alliance
Advocacy group
The Colorado Ministerial Alliance endorsed John Hickenlooper in the Colorado Senate primary.
AFSCME
Political organization
AFSCME endorsed John Hickenlooper's 2026 Senate reelection campaign.
Center for New Liberalism
Public endorsement
The Center for New Liberalism endorsed John Hickenlooper for reelection to the U.S. Senate.
Denver New Liberals
Public figure
Denver New Liberals endorsed John Hickenlooper for reelection to the U.S. Senate.
BRADY PAC
Political organization
BRADY PAC endorsed John Hickenlooper's 2026 Senate reelection campaign.
End Citizens United
Political organization
End Citizens United endorsed John Hickenlooper's 2026 Senate reelection campaign.
Let America Vote
Political organization
Let America Vote endorsed John Hickenlooper's 2026 Senate reelection campaign.
GIFFORDS PAC
Political organization
GIFFORDS PAC endorsed John Hickenlooper for reelection to the U.S. Senate.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$8.1M
$6.1M
$4.1M
$2.0M
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$1.0M
$1.2M
$1.4M
$59.1K
Cycle 2024
$1.2M
$1.4M
$954.7K
$39.8K
Cycle 2026
$8.1M
$2.1M
$7.5M
$415.1K
Source: FEC