John Hickenlooper Wins Second Term in Colorado Senate Race
Senator John Hickenlooper defeated Republican Mark Baisley to secure a second term in Colorado, announcing he will retire at the end of this term.
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper won reelection to a second term in Colorado on November 3, 2026, defeating Republican state Senator Mark Baisley and Forward Party candidate Bob Chew. The Associated Press called the race immediately after polls closed. While one report projected Hickenlooper winning with 60.39% of the vote, another indicated a wider margin of 80% against Baisley's 15% as of 7 p.m. Mountain time. A third report showed Hickenlooper holding 61% of the support with 73% of votes counted.
Hickenlooper, a former governor and mayor of Denver, campaigned as a critic of President Donald Trump, blaming Trump's tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for what he called a "cost-of-living emergency." In his victory speech, he vowed to "rebuild what" Trump "tore apart" and stated the Senate would investigate alleged illegal activity by the Trump administration. He also announced his intention to retire at the end of this second term.
Mark Baisley, an ally of President Trump and former aerospace defense professional, advocated for a "small and frugal government" and supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Baisley entered the race late with limited funding, raising $138,210 compared to Hickenlooper's $9.5 million. Bob Chew self-funded his campaign with over $3.5 million to focus on the national debt.
