Candidate · November 3, 2026
John Hickenlooper
On the ballot for U.S. Senate · Colorado
- raised through Oct 14, 2026
- $9.5M
- cash on hand
- $1.6M
- issues with public statements
- 23
- outside spending for or against
- $511K
§1On the ballot
Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.
| Office | U.S. Senate · Colorado1 |
|---|---|
| Party on the ballot | Democratic Party1 |
| Status | Incumbent — Currently serves as a U.S. senator from Colorado.2 |
| Also on the ballot |
|
§2Who they are
Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
John Hickenlooper worked as a geologist and, after being laid off, opened Colorado's first brewpub in Denver's Lower Downtown and went on to start seven more small businesses.3 He served as mayor of Denver and then as governor of Colorado, first running for governor in 2010.3,
Why they say they're running
His campaign website says he is running to make Washington work for Coloradans by bringing people together on lowering health care and prescription drug costs, reducing gun violence, protecting public lands and combating climate change.3
Service in Congress since 2023
- 2021–nowU.S. Senator, CO2
Websites and accounts
- Official websitehickenlooper.senate.gov2
- X (Twitter)x.com/SenatorHick6
- Facebookfacebook.com/SenatorHick6
- YouTubeyoutube.com/UCU6pcq-AZA9wnmIPBj6ePwQ6
- Instagraminstagram.com/senatorhick6
- Campaign websitehickenlooper.com4,
7 - Facebookfacebook.com/JohnHickenlooper4
- X (Twitter)twitter.com/hickenlooper4
- Instagraminstagram.com/johnhickenlooper4
- YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC82O0Byp_ny13O0LkO1UpUg5
§3What they've said on the issues
Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.
Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.
Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.
Elections and Government Reform
His campaign website says he takes no corporate PAC money, supports overturning the Citizens United ruling and sponsors legislation for stricter rules and disclosure on money in politics.5
- Limit spending by outside groups, including by amending the Constitution to overturn Citizens United
- Keep spending unlimited but require groups to name their major donors
- Keep current rules
- Raise or remove limits on donations to candidates and parties
His campaign website says that as governor he helped create Colorado's universal vote-by-mail system and that he opposes efforts to end voting by mail.5
- Mail a ballot to every registered voter
- Let any voter request a mail ballot without giving a reason
- Allow mail ballots only for voters with a reason, such as illness, disability or travel
- End most mail voting, keeping it for military and overseas voters
Economy, Jobs and Trade
His campaign website says he is demanding that the president pay back the money collected through tariffs it calls illegal.5
His campaign website says he cosponsors the PRO Act to strengthen workers' rights to organize and bargain.5
- Make it easier to form a union (for example, the PRO Act)
- Keep current rules
- Add requirements such as a secret-ballot election before every union is recognized
His campaign website says he has opposed the administration's efforts to revoke federal employees' collective bargaining rights.5
Technology, Privacy and AI
His campaign website says he supports regulating the artificial intelligence industry and has written legislation to prepare and protect workers as AI spreads.5
Housing
His campaign website says he is working to lower housing costs by preventing large corporations from dominating the housing market and cutting red tape that slows home building.5
Immigration
His campaign website says ICE needs to be completely overhauled or shut down, says he voted against giving it more money, and says he opposes the administration's mass deportation effort.5
His campaign website says he introduced legislation to bar ICE agents from wearing masks and from conducting raids at schools, hospitals, polling places and places of worship.5
Guns
His campaign website says he supports legislation to expand background checks to all gun sales.5
- Require checks for all gun sales, including private sales (with exceptions such as gifts between family members)
- Require checks for private sales at gun shows and online, but not other private sales
- Keep current law, with checks required only for sales by licensed dealers
His campaign website says he supports legislation to ban assault weapons.5
- Ban the sale of these rifles
- Keep sales legal, with added limits such as a minimum buying age of 21
- No bans or added limits on these rifles
Environment and Public Lands
His campaign website says public lands should never be for sale and that he helped stop a plan to sell off public lands.5
- Transfer large areas of federal land to the states
- Sell limited amounts of federal land, such as near towns for housing
- Keep federal lands in federal ownership
Health Care
His campaign website says health care is a right and that he supports legislation to create a public option.5
- One government plan for everyone (Medicare for All)
- Add a government plan that anyone can choose to buy
- Keep the current mix of private and public coverage, including the ACA
- Fewer federal insurance rules and more private plan choices, with aid paid to individuals
His campaign website says he is working to restore funding for Medicaid.5
- Reduce federal Medicaid spending further, such as by giving states fixed yearly amounts (block grants or per-person limits)
- Keep the funding rules set by the 2025 law
- Reverse the 2025 changes or increase federal funding
His campaign website says he is working to restore funding for Affordable Care Act subsidies.5
Social Security and Medicare
His campaign website says he supports letting Medicare negotiate the prices of all drugs.5
- Repeal or scale back negotiation
- Keep the program as it is
- Expand it to more drugs and to people with private insurance
Family and Social Policy
His campaign website says he is working to restore funding for SNAP.5
- Undo the 2025 changes or expand benefits and eligibility
- Keep the program as changed in 2025
- Tighten eligibility and work rules further
Abortion and Reproductive Health
His campaign website says he supports abortion rights and is working to restore Roe v. Wade.5
- Legal only to save the pregnant woman's life
- Legal only in cases of rape or incest, or to save the woman's life
- Legal early in pregnancy only, up to a limit such as 6, 12 or 15 weeks
- Legal until about 24 weeks, as under Roe v. Wade, and later to protect the woman's life or health
- Legal at every stage, with no limit based on weeks of pregnancy
His campaign website says he is fighting to restore Roe v. Wade.5
- A national law making abortion legal in every state, at least until viability, as under Roe v. Wade
- Leave abortion law to each state
- A national law limiting abortion (for example, after 15 weeks of pregnancy)
His campaign website says he is working to protect access to mifepristone and medication abortion.5
His campaign website says he wants to reverse Medicaid cuts that targeted Planned Parenthood.5
His campaign website says he is working to establish a nationwide right to IVF, and that as governor he expanded access to free birth control.5
Foreign Policy and Defense
His campaign website says he wants to end the U.S. war in Iran, which it links to higher gas prices.5
§4Popular bills that never got a vote
Why this matters: Many bills with wide support from both parties never reach a vote, so no member of Congress is ever on record for or against them. Signing on as a sponsor or cosponsor is the only public record of support.
While John Hickenlooper served, these bills had broad support from both parties but never reached a floor vote. No officeholder ever had to vote on them. John Hickenlooper sponsored or cosponsored 29 of the 50. How bills die without a vote.
See all 50
- Requires sanctions and tariffs if Russia refuses peace talks with Ukraine or invades again (S. 1241, 119th Congress · 84 cosponsors)8Cosponsored
- Lets combat-disabled military retirees receive full retired pay and disability pay (S. 1032, 119th Congress · 80 cosponsors)9Cosponsored
- Lets combat-disabled veterans with under 20 years' service get full retirement pay (S. 344, 118th Congress · 74 cosponsors)10Cosponsored
- Permanently expands Medicare coverage of telehealth services (S. 1261, 119th Congress · 73 cosponsors)11Cosponsored
- Sets prior authorization standards for Medicare Advantage plans (S. 1816, 119th Congress · 71 cosponsors)12Cosponsored
- Renews the repair-backlog fund for national parks and other public lands (S. 1547, 119th Congress · 70 cosponsors)13Cosponsored
- Adds Medicare coverage of tests that screen for many types of cancer, starting in 2028 (S. 339, 119th Congress · 68 cosponsors)14Cosponsored
- Permanently expands Medicare coverage of telehealth services (S. 2016, 118th Congress · 65 cosponsors)15Cosponsored
- Allows Medicare to cover FDA-approved tests that screen for many types of cancer (S. 2085, 118th Congress · 64 cosponsors)16Cosponsored
- Lets surviving military and veteran spouses who remarry keep certain benefits (S. 410, 119th Congress · 61 cosponsors)17Cosponsored
- Sets electronic prior-approval and reporting rules for Medicare Advantage plans (S. 4532, 118th Congress · 59 cosponsors)18Cosponsored
- Adds Medicare coverage of early Alzheimer's screening tests starting in 2028 (S. 3267, 119th Congress · 57 cosponsors)19Cosponsored
- Bans connected vehicles and parts tied to China, Russia, Iran or North Korea (S. 4429, 119th Congress · 57 cosponsors)20Cosponsored
- Sets criminal penalties for charging unauthorized fees to help with VA benefit claims (S. 740, 118th Congress · 55 cosponsors)21Cosponsored
- Requires health plans to cover birth defect care for the eyes, ears, teeth, mouth or jaw (S. 1677, 119th Congress · 54 cosponsors)22Cosponsored
- Expands federal support for community development lenders, including Native lenders (S. 3940, 119th Congress · 53 cosponsors)23Cosponsored
- Requires employer health plans to offer exceptions to step therapy drug rules (S. 2903, 119th Congress · 52 cosponsors)24Cosponsored
- Limits VA cuts to payment rates for ambulances and other special transportation (S. 2757, 118th Congress · 49 cosponsors)25Cosponsored
- Adds military spouses to the groups covered by the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (S. 596, 118th Congress · 49 cosponsors)26Cosponsored
- Requires health plans to offer exceptions to step-therapy drug rules (S. 652, 118th Congress · 48 cosponsors)27Cosponsored
- Lowers U.S. taxes on Taiwan residents if Taiwan gives Americans similar treatment (S. 199, 119th Congress · 48 cosponsors)28Cosponsored
- Has education civil rights officials consider a specific definition of antisemitism (S. 558, 119th Congress · 47 cosponsors)29Cosponsored
- Expands and revises the low-income housing tax credit for affordable rentals (S. 1515, 119th Congress · 41 cosponsors)30Cosponsored
- Lets surviving military and veteran spouses who remarry keep certain benefits (S. 1266, 118th Congress · 40 cosponsors)31Cosponsored
- Adds military spouses to the tax credit for hiring workers from targeted groups (S. 1027, 119th Congress · 39 cosponsors)32Cosponsored
- Expands and extends the military's authority to counter drone threats through 2030 (S. 1793, 119th Congress · 39 cosponsors)33Cosponsored
- Adds a presentation on VA benefits to military transition counseling (S. 3938, 119th Congress · 32 cosponsors)34Cosponsored
- Creates a federal data system on college students' enrollment, costs and outcomes (S. 1349, 118th Congress · 31 cosponsors)35Cosponsored
- Expands and extends federal and local authority to detect and stop threatening drones (S. 1631, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)36Cosponsored
- Gives new-car dealers more time to restock inventory under a tax accounting method (S. 443, 118th Congress · 63 cosponsors)37Did not cosponsor
- Requires AM radio as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles (S. 1669, 118th Congress · 62 cosponsors)38Did not cosponsor
- Bars insurance discrimination against living organ donors and clarifies their leave rights (S. 1552, 119th Congress · 50 cosponsors)39Did not cosponsor
- Raises the railroad track maintenance tax credit and updates which track qualifies (S. 1532, 119th Congress · 48 cosponsors)40Did not cosponsor
- Bars insurer bias against living organ donors; counts recovery for job-protected leave (S. 1384, 118th Congress · 43 cosponsors)41Did not cosponsor
- Restores immediate tax deductions for research costs and expands startup research credits (S. 866, 118th Congress · 43 cosponsors)42Did not cosponsor
- Authorizes stillbirth research, data collection and public education programs (S. 2647, 118th Congress · 41 cosponsors)43Did not cosponsor
- Funds state stillbirth data collection and federal stillbirth guidelines (S. 2858, 119th Congress · 41 cosponsors)44Did not cosponsor
- Expands tax breaks and federal support for employee ownership of S corporations (S. 2515, 118th Congress · 40 cosponsors)45Did not cosponsor
- Creates a White House coordinator and task force to counter antisemitism (S. 4091, 118th Congress · 38 cosponsors)46Did not cosponsor
- Lowers Medicare drug plan costs and limits for non-opioid pain medicines (S. 475, 119th Congress · 36 cosponsors)47Did not cosponsor
- Expands and renames the low-income housing tax credit (S. 1557, 118th Congress · 34 cosponsors)48Did not cosponsor
- Funds two federal diabetes programs, including one for Native Americans, through 2027 (S. 2211, 119th Congress · 34 cosponsors)49Did not cosponsor
- Adds permanent Medicare coverage of pharmacist testing and treatment for common infections (S. 2426, 119th Congress · 33 cosponsors)50Did not cosponsor
- Expands tax deferral and federal support for employee ownership of S corporations (S. 2461, 119th Congress · 33 cosponsors)51Did not cosponsor
- Expands U.S.-Israel military cooperation on counter-drone and emerging technology (S. 554, 119th Congress · 32 cosponsors)52Did not cosponsor
- Funds SNAP food assistance benefits during a lapse in fiscal 2026 Agriculture funding (S. 3024, 119th Congress · 31 cosponsors)53Did not cosponsor
- Makes the federal adoption tax credit refundable (S. 2895, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)54Did not cosponsor
- Sets federal criminal penalties for illicit use of xylazine, an animal sedative (S. 993, 118th Congress · 30 cosponsors)55Did not cosponsor
- Adds Medicare payment for pharmacist testing and treatment of flu, COVID-19 and more (S. 2477, 118th Congress · 29 cosponsors)56Did not cosponsor
- Expands tech company reporting duties and victim remedies for online child sexual abuse (S. 1829, 119th Congress · 29 cosponsors)57Did not cosponsor
§5Money
Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.
Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.58
| Raised | $9,529,277 |
|---|---|
| Spent | $9,406,082 |
| Cash on hand | $1,558,828 |
Where the money came from
Outside spending
Groups spending independently reported $511,292 supporting and $0 opposing John Hickenlooper this cycle, primary and general combined, in the 24- and 48-hour reports the law requires for larger expenditures, filed through October 23, 2026.59
| Group | Supporting | Opposing |
|---|---|---|
| COMMON SENSE ACTION FUND | $300,000 | — |
| OUR FUTURE COLORADO | $195,250 | — |
| National Association of Realtors Political Action Committee | $14,754 | — |
| Neighbor Voices | $1,288 | — |
Smaller expenditures that appear only on a group's regular monthly or quarterly report aren't in these totals, so the full amounts can be somewhat higher. When a group amends a report, only its latest version is counted.
§6Financial disclosures
Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.
Senate candidates and senators file with the Senate's own disclosure system, which asks each visitor to agree to its terms before searching, so we can't link straight to a filing. You can search for John Hickenlooper at efdsearch.senate.gov60.