John Hickenlooper won Colorado’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, fending off a challenge from progressive state Senator Julie Gonzales and securing his party’s nomination for a second term. The Associated Press called the race for Hickenlooper at 7:36 p.m., when he was leading Gonzales by nearly 15 percentage points.
Hickenlooper, 74, is finishing his first term in the Senate after defeating Republican Cory Gardner in 2020. His career spans decades in Colorado politics: he served two terms as governor and nearly eight years as Denver mayor, before that working as a geologist in the oil and gas industry and owning a bar and restaurant.
Gonzales, 43, has represented a state Senate district since 2019 and previously worked as a community organizer and at an immigration law firm. She positioned herself as an “insurgent progressive” and criticized Hickenlooper’s approach to politics. “Go-along-to-get-along, poll-tested incrementalist politics have not made Coloradans’ lives better,” she said when launching her campaign in December 2025.
The race reflected a broader wave of younger, progressive candidates challenging established Democrats in Colorado this year, tapping into anti-incumbent sentiment among party voters. However, Gonzales struggled to build momentum, raising only $869,000 through June 10 compared with Hickenlooper’s $10 million. Hickenlooper largely avoided the campaign trail, declining to appear at forums and debates with Gonzales and instead relying on voter familiarity to carry him through the primary.
On policy, the two candidates agreed on several issues: both supported dismantling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising the minimum wage, and capping prescription drug prices. They diverged on healthcare—Gonzales backed Medicare for All while Hickenlooper favored a public option—and energy policy, with Gonzales calling for a fracking ban while Hickenlooper emphasized wind and solar expansion.
Hickenlooper has often framed himself as a bipartisan dealmaker, emphasizing his relationships with Republican colleagues and his ability to win their support on key votes despite pressure from the Trump administration. “They’re in a tough spot,” he said in May of his Republican counterparts, describing threats against those who don’t support the president fully.
Hickenlooper will face Republican state Senator Mark Baisley in the November general election. Baisley was unopposed for the GOP nomination.
Sources
- The Colorado Sun — Primary results, candidate backgrounds, campaign fundraising figures, policy positions, and quotes from both candidates
- NBC News — Confirmation of Hickenlooper’s Senate career and primary challenge context
- Reuters — Context on progressive wave in Colorado primaries and Hickenlooper’s fundraising advantage
- USA Today — Coverage of progressive candidates challenging Colorado incumbents
