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Portrait of John W. HickenlooperPhoto: unitedstates.github.io

CO · Officeholder

John W. Hickenlooper

DU.S. Senator · Colorado

On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: U.S. Senate · Colorado

Biography

John Hickenlooper is the Democratic incumbent seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate. 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. He won the June 2026 Democratic primary over state Sen. Julie Gonzales.[1][2][3]

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][4] 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]

  1. 1.John Hickenlooper · Ballotpedia Reference
  2. 2.Mark Baisley · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.About John · Office of Sen. John Hickenlooper Official record
  4. 4.Colorado U.S. Senate | Baisley looks to unseat Hickenlooper · Colorado Politics · 2026-10-03 News report

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.

On the ballot

Full candidate research ›U.S. Senate · Colorado ›

Also on the ballot for this seat

Adam WithrowCandidateUnity PartyU.S. Senate · ColoradoColoradoBlake HuberCandidateLIBU.S. Senate · ColoradoColoradoChris BaumCandidateApproval Voting PartyU.S. Senate · ColoradoColoradoPortrait of Mark BaisleyMark BaisleyState Senator · District 4RAlso on the 2026 ballot: U.S. Senate · ColoradoColoradoRobert ChewCandidateColorado Forward PartyU.S. Senate · ColoradoColorado

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned

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 ↗

  • Van Hollen Amdt. No. 3115; To prohibit funds from being used for reorganization of the Department of Agriculture and to require a benefit-cost analysis on that reorganization, a public comment period, and a report.

    A yes vote would have adopted Van Hollen Amendment 3115, which would prohibit funds for reorganizing the Department of Agriculture and require a benefit-cost analysis, a public comment period, and a report. (AI-written)

    What it does: Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026 This bill provides FY2026 appropriations to several federal departments and agencies for activities and programs…

    Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 40–2, Republicans 0–49

    Aug 1, 2025Official record ↗

  • S. 1582, As Amended; A bill to provide for the regulation of payment stablecoins, and for other purposes.

    What it does: Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act or the GENIUS Act This act establishes a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins (digital assets which an issuer must redeem for a fixed value).

    Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 18–26, Republicans 48–2

    Jun 17, 2025Official record ↗

How this is counted

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

See all their split votes

Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.

PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Confirmation: Keith Sonderling, of F.L., to be Secretary of Labor

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Nomination

Confirms Keith Sonderling as Secretary of Labor.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Confirmed 47–41·Substantive·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
PN1129 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture: Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Cloture Motion

A yes vote ended debate (cloture) so the Senate could move to a final vote on the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Secretary of Labor. (AI-written)

Agreed to 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 9340 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 9340; A bill to amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 to establish a Federal standard relating to the recovery of the full, incremental costs of upgrades that serve large-load customers, and for other purposes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 9340, a bill setting a federal standard on recovering the costs of upgrades serving large-load electricity customers (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Ratepayer Protection Act The bill requires state utility regulators and nonregulated utilities to consider implementing a standard to hold certain large-load customers responsible for the costs associated with any generation, transmission, or distribution upgrade of electric service necessary to serve such customers.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 57–43·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
H.R. 7008 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: H.R. 7008; A bill to amend chapter 131 of title 5 to require certain restrictions on stocks for Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents, and for other purposes.

NoVOTED

Motion: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have ended debate on whether the Senate should begin considering H.R. 7008, a bill requiring certain restrictions on stocks held by Members of Congress and their spouses and dependents (cloture on the motion to proceed). (AI-written)

Stop Insider Trading Act This bill generally prohibits Members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requires public notice before these individuals may sell stocks.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 53–47·Procedural·Sep 30, 2026Roll call ↗
S.Res. 852 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Discharge S. Res. 852; A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Discharge

A yes vote would have discharged S.Res. 852, requesting information on Israel's human rights practices under section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, from committee so the Senate could consider it. (AI-written)

As introduced, requests that the Secretary of State give Congress, within 30 days, a statement on Israel's human rights practices, including information on alleged killings of U.S. citizens by Israeli forces or settlers since 2022, Americans held in Israeli prisons and detained Palestinian children.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S.J.Res. 197 · U.S. SENATE

Motion to Proceed to S.J. Res. 197; A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2027; and Basic Health Program".

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Motion to Proceed

A yes vote would have moved the Senate to take up S.J.Res. 197, a resolution to disapprove the CMS rule on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters and the Basic Health Program. (AI-written)

Overturns the federal health agency's 2027 rule setting payment parameters and standards for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including insurer user fees, broker rules, hardship exemptions and catastrophic-plan options, so the rule has no legal effect.

AI summary — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 48–51·Procedural·Sep 29, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

S. 4668, as amended; A bill to protect the name, image, and likeness rights of, and provide protections for, student athletes and to promote fair competition among intercollegiate athletics, and for other purposes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On Passage of the Bill

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 to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Official summary — read the bill text ↗
Passed 77–22·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6835; To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6835

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6835, which would establish certain standards for coaches of varsity sports teams. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To establish certain standards with respect to coaches of varsity sports teams.

Bill summary: 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 to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 47–52·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

YesVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6805

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

Bill summary: 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 to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 49–50·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗
S. 4668 · U.S. SENATE

Kennedy Amdt. No. 6760; To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

NoVOTED

Motion: On the Amendment S.Amdt. 6760

A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6760, which would limit price increases for college athletics tickets. (AI-written)

Amendment purpose (official): To limit price increases for college athletics tickets.

Bill summary: 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 to pool and sell certain college sports media rights.

Latest official summary of the bill (as amended) — read the bill text ↗
Rejected 42–54·Substantive·Sep 28, 2026Roll call ↗

Showing 10 of 911 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.