U.S. Senate · Colorado
Chris Baum
CandidateApproval Voting Party
- Race
- U.S. Senate · Colorado
- Result
- John Hickenlooper, projected winner
- Opponents
- John Hickenlooper (D); Mark Baisley (R); Robert Chew (Colorado Forward Party); Blake Huber (LIB); Adam Withrow (Unity Party)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Chris Baum, an Approval Voting Party candidate and retired Navy officer and small business owner, lost the November 3, 2026 election for the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado to John Hickenlooper. He said he ran primarily to publicize approval voting, a system in which voters may select more than one candidate.[1][2][3]
On the ballotU.S. Senate
2026-11-03
| John Hickenlooper D | incumbent |
| Mark Baisley R | challenger |
| Chris Baum Approval Voting Party | challenger |
| Robert Chew Colorado Forward Party | challenger |
| Blake Huber LIB | challenger |
| Adam Withrow Unity Party | challenger |
Biography
Chris Baum, an Approval Voting Party candidate and retired Navy officer and small business owner, lost the November 3, 2026 election for the U.S. Senate seat in Colorado to John Hickenlooper. He said he ran primarily to publicize approval voting, a system in which voters may select more than one candidate.[1][2][3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Chris Baum was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1967 and a graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1979, which by his account is a master's in government administration.[3] In his survey he says he was a U.S. Navy officer for 20 years, mainly in the submarine service, and attained the rank of Commander. He says he later owned a small retail decorating store, worked as a network administrator for the New Mexico Bar Association, and worked as a computer consultant.[3]
Baum says he has lived in Colorado since 2009 and attends the Calvary Church of Broomfield. He lists past roles as a campaign director for an El Paso County commission candidate, an election worker and president of the Kiwanis Club of Albuquerque.[3] He received 0.2% of the vote to John Hickenlooper's 60.4%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[1]
In their own words
Priorities
- Lists getting federal finances in order, ending deficit spending and reducing the national debt as a key campaign message.[4]
- Lists reducing government involvement in daily life, adhering to the U.S. Constitution, as a key campaign message.[4]
- Says he is running primarily to publicize approval voting.[4]
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/chris-baum
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Sources cited in this profile
- 1.U.S. Senate · Colorado results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 2.United States Senate election in Colorado, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey response, Chris Baum (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 4.Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey response, Chris Baum (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words