BIOGUIDE H000273 · FEC S0CO00575
John Hickenlooper
U.S. Senator (since 2021)DINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. Senate · Colorado
- Result
- John Hickenlooper, projected winner
- Opponents
- Mark Baisley (R); Chris Baum (Approval Voting Party); Robert Chew (Colorado Forward Party); Blake Huber (LIB); Adam Withrow (Unity Party)
- Research
- Basic
Party line14 votes tracked
Broke with Democrats on
With party = voted the same way as most Democrats who voted.
Said vs. did7 statements · 14 votes
Senator Hickenlooper believes that health care is a right, not a privilege.
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›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 |
Won the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
Senator Hickenlooper believes that health care is a right, not a privilege.
Says every American should be guaranteed access to high-quality, affordable, universal health care and opposes the 2025 federal law's Medicaid and ACA cuts.[5]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[6]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
Calls for a bold, science-based transition away from fossil fuels and cites his role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which he calls the largest climate investment in history.
Documented position[7]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[6]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
As governor, helped enact universal background checks and a ban on high-capacity magazines after the 2012 Aurora shooting; as senator, supported the bipartisan Safer Communities Act and supports banning assault weapons.
Documented position[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
enforcement without accountability undermines our values and our security.
Says federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration has "gone too far" and that enforcement without accountability undermines American values and security, while also saying he supports maintaining a secure border.[9]
The Constitution is clear: Congress decides if we go to war — not the President.
In a March 2026 statement he said he is a yes on the bipartisan Iran War Powers Resolution and that Congress, not the President, decides whether the U.S. goes to war.[11]
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote.[12]
- YESWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.[13]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper this week signed onto three bills that would protect reproductive rights
In 2022 he cosponsored three bills to protect abortion access, including the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act and the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act.[14]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
ending Trump’s war with Iran and illegal tariffs that are increasing gas and grocery prices
In his Colorado Politics voter guide answers, he named ending what he calls illegal tariffs among his priorities, saying they are increasing gas and grocery prices.[15]
- YESResolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs.[16]
- YESResolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.[17]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[6]
Biography
John Hickenlooper is the Democratic U.S. Senator from Colorado and won re-election on November 3, 2026. A geologist who opened Colorado's first brewpub, he served as Mayor of Denver (2003-2011) and Governor of Colorado (2011-2019), briefly sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and won his Senate seat in 2020.[1][2][3][4]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
John Hickenlooper was born in Narberth, Pennsylvania, in 1952, and his Senate biography says he was raised by his single mother after his father died of cancer when he was eight.[1][3] He earned a bachelor's degree (1974) and a master's degree in geology (1980) from Wesleyan University.[1] He began his career in Colorado as a geologist, including work with Buckhorn Petroleum. After being laid off in the mid-1980s recession, he opened the state's first brewpub in Denver's Lower Downtown (LoDo) warehouse district, and he and his partners went on to renovate historic buildings in Denver and other cities.[1][3]
Hickenlooper was elected Mayor of Denver in 2003 and served until 2011. According to his Senate biography, his mayoralty included building the FasTracks transit system with the region's mayors, early childhood education for every 4-year-old in Denver, and police reforms.[1][3] He then served as Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019, a tenure his Senate biography credits with an expansion of health care coverage to half a million Coloradans, climate pollution limits, gun safety measures, and the first U.S. regulatory framework for legal recreational marijuana.[1][3] He announced a run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on March 4, 2019, and suspended the campaign on August 15, 2019.[1]
Hickenlooper won election to the U.S. Senate in 2020, defeating incumbent Republican Cory Gardner, and took the seat in 2021.[1][18] In 2025-2026 he serves on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship committees, and is ranking member of two subcommittees.[1] He defeated state Sen. Julie Gonzales in the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary, 52.8% to 47.2%.[2] He won the November 3, 2026 general election with 60.4% of the vote to Mark Baisley's 35%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[4]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | Against partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2 |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1 |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51 |
| 2025-10-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47 |
| 2025-07-01 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3 |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52 |
| 2025-06-17 | Against partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 14 votes.
All 14 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | Against partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day. |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted no | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it. |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-10-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect. |
| 2025-07-01 | With partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted yes | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-06-17 | Against partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress. |
| 2025-04-30 | With partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–0 · Republicans 3–49S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote. |
| 2025-03-14 | With partyvoted no | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passageH.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 2–45 · Republicans 52–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-02-13 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS SecretaryPN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 52–1The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination. |
| 2025-02-04 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney GeneralPN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–46 · Republicans 53–0The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines. |
| 2025-01-24 | With partyvoted no | Confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of DefensePN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination. |
| 2025-01-20 | With partyvoted no | Laken Riley Act — Senate passageS. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · roll call ↗Democrats 12–35 · Republicans 52–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
In their own words
Priorities
- Health care: says health care is a right, not a privilege, and criticizes the 2025 federal reconciliation law's roughly $1 trillion in Medicaid and ACA cuts, which he says will strip coverage from an estimated 15 million Americans including 241,000 Coloradans.[5]
- Climate: calls climate change the defining challenge of the era and points to his role helping pass the Inflation Reduction Act as a model for expanding clean energy and the green workforce.[7]
- Immigration: says the immigration system is broken and that enforcement under the Trump administration has gone too far, and calls for restoring due process while maintaining a secure border.[9]
Campaign money$8.1M raised · 86% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $5.8M
- PACs & committees $896K
- Party $62K
Largest committee contributions
- DSCC Party$62K
- Victory Now PAC PAC$10K
- Moderate Democrats PAC PAC$10K
- Service First PAC PAC$10K
- Common Ground PAC PAC$10K
- Forward Together PAC PAC$10K
- National Beer Wholesalers Association Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- Purpose PAC PAC$10K
- A New Direction PAC PAC$10K
- Oceans PAC PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/john-w-hickenlooper
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 43 of 831 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Foreign affairs & defense (16), Jobs & cost of living (14), Climate & energy (5)
Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)
What it does: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences t…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 31–14, Republicans 9–40
Sep 28, 2026Official record ↗
Confirmation: Darrell Owens, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
What it does: Confirms Darrell Owens as U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 16–29, Republicans 50–0
Jun 23, 2026Official record ↗
H.R. 7148, as Amended; A bill making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
What it does: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for the remainder of FY2026 and provides continuing FY2026 appropriations for the Department of Homel…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 22–23, Republicans 46–5
Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- No
With most of their party · Agreed to 46–45 · Yes 45–No 45 · Democrats 0–43, Republicans 45–0
May 11, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Passed 49–47 · Yes 47–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 47–0
Feb 12, 2026Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–46 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 0–44, Republicans 46–0
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Rejected 46–49 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 44–0, Republicans 0–46
Jan 15, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–47 · Yes 48–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 48–0
Jul 23, 2026Official record ↗
Compare all 6 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.John Hickenlooper · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Mark Baisley · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.About John · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Official record
- 4.Colorado U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 5.Health Care · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Candidate's own words
- 6.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
- 7.Climate · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Candidate's own words
- 8.Gun Violence · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Candidate's own words
- 9.Immigration · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Candidate's own words
- 10.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
- 11.Hickenlooper Statement on Upcoming Iran War Powers Vote · Office of Senator John Hickenlooper · 2026-10-03 Official record
- 12.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
- 13.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
- 14.Hickenlooper Cosponsors Three Bills to Protect Reproductive Rights · Office of Senator John Hickenlooper · 2026-10-03 Official record
- 15.Colorado U.S. Senate | Baisley looks to unseat Hickenlooper · Colorado Politics · 2026-10-03 News report
- 16.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
- 17.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
- 18.Colorado U.S. Senate | Baisley looks to unseat Hickenlooper · Colorado Politics · 2026-10-03 News report