{"id":2621898,"date":"2026-06-30T21:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incumbent-hickenlooper-wins-democratic-nomination-for-senate-in-colorado\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T21:52:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T01:52:22","slug":"incumbent-hickenlooper-wins-democratic-nomination-for-senate-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incumbent-hickenlooper-wins-democratic-nomination-for-senate-in-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"Incumbent Hickenlooper wins Democratic nomination for Senate in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fincumbent-hickenlooper-wins-democratic-nomination-for-senate-in-colorado%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2621898&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO) secured the Democratic nomination for Colorado&#8217;s Senate race by defeating a progressive challenger, julie Gonzales, with 57.3% of the vote. Hickenlooper, a former governor and Denver mayor, continues a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >consistent winning streak<\/a> in Colorado politics and is favored to win the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: GOP Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the ...ate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">general election<\/a> against Republican state Senator Mark Baisley. Polls showed a narrower-than-expected lead for Hickenlooper, but his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-vows-to-sign-a-bill-barring-child-sexual-mutilation-in-all-50-states\/\" title=\"Trump pledges to enact law banning &#039;child sexual mutilation&#039; nationwide.\">campaign primarily focused<\/a> on his record, avoiding debates with Gonzales, who tried to challenge him on his bipartisan approach and her anti-establishment credentials. Hickenlooper has indicated plans to retire after his term if re-elected. His primary victory follows a history of accomplished campaigns, including his previous Senate race in 2020. Colorado&#8217;s Senate seat is considered a solid Democratic hold by experts, and Hickenlooper aims to continue his tenure in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-bidens-envoy-threatens-brazil-not-to-question-electronic-vote\/\" title=\"Report: Biden\u2019s envoy threatens Brazil not to question electronic vote\">upcoming general election<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-hickenlooper\/\">John Hickenlooper<\/a> (D-CO) defeated a progressive challenger in Tuesday\u2019s Democratic primary for Senate in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\/\">Colorado<\/a>, easing his path to a second term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hickenlooper, a former governor and Denver mayor, continued an unbroken winning streak in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\">Colorado politics<\/a>, receiving 57.3% of the vote when the <em>Associated Press<\/em> called the race shortly after 9:36 p.m. His competitor, state Sen. Julie Gonzales, received 42.7%.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4630284\/hickenlooper-senate-colorado-2026-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Incumbent Hickenlooper wins Democratic nomination for Senate in Colorado<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4631480\/lauren-boebert-heads-to-november-election\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Boebert heads to November election\u00a0after Trump called for primary challenge<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4631772\/trump-dallas-republican-midterm-convention\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says Dallas will host Republican midterm convention in September<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polling ahead of the primary showed Hickenlooper with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradocommunityresearch.com\/past-polls-surveys\/undecided-voters-define-colorado-democratic-senate-primary-despite-near-universal-name-id-for-hickenlooper\">narrower-than-expected lead<\/a>, but he was still regarded as the heavy favorite heading into Tuesday, and his campaign strategy reflected that front-runner status. Hickenlooper <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradonewsline.com\/2026\/06\/17\/colorado-senate-primary-hickenlooper-declines-to-debate\/\">declined to debate<\/a> Gonzales and generally focused on his own record in TV advertising.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gonzales, an immigration activist and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradonewsline.com\/2025\/12\/08\/julie-gonzales-primary-hickenlooper\/\">former member<\/a> of the Democratic Socialists of America, attempted to make the race a referendum on Hickenlooper\u2019s willingness to cross the aisle, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3326427\/cabinet-crossovers-democrats-breaking-party-lines-trump-nominees\/\">including in the Trump era<\/a>, but she was limited by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.coloradopolitics.com\/2026\/06\/17\/hickenlooper-raises-900k-since-april-heads-into-primary-with-almost-3-million-on-hand\/\">relatively meager<\/a> fundraising and Hickenlooper\u2019s high name ID in the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their race took place alongside a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/coloradosun.com\/2026\/06\/25\/phil-weiser-michael-bennet-poll-colorado-governors-race\/\">more competitive primary<\/a> for governor featuring Colorado\u2019s other senator, Michael Bennet (D-CO), and state Attorney General Phil Weiser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hickenlooper must still face GOP state Sen. Mark Baisley in the general election this fall. Colorado has not elected a Republican to statewide office in a decade, and the nonpartisan Cook Political Report <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/senate\/race\/488546\">rates<\/a> the Senate seat as \u201csolidly Democratic.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4619224\/aipac-van-hollen-antisemitic-tropes-israel-criticism-ad\/\"><strong>AIPAC ACCUSES VAN HOLLEN OF FANNING \u2018ANTISEMITIC TROPES\u2019 IN NEW SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Should he win in November, the 74-year-old Hickenlooper has promised he will retire at the end of his second term in the Senate. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His first Senate primary, in 2020, also featured a progressive challenger, former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. Hickenlooper won the nomination and ultimately defeated Sen. Cory Gardner, the last Republican to hold one of Colorado\u2019s Senate seats.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hickenlooper wins Colorado Democratic Senate primary, secures second term<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2621899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25064656488394-e1782827160522.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6024,35765,5846,5894,3740],"class_list":["post-2621898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-colorado","tag-democratic-nomination","tag-hickenlooper","tag-politics","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP25064656488394-e1782827160522.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2621898"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2621902,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621898\/revisions\/2621902"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2621899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2621898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2621898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2621898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}