Hickenlooper Narrowly Wins Last Term in Unruly Year

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, left, speaks to the crowd as former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar watches on at Hickenlooper's primary election night watch party in Denver's Uptown neighborhood on June 30, 2026. (John Ingold, The Colorado Sun)

John Hickenlooper’s reelection this year appeared secure against an underfunded State Senator, but the anti-establishment wave affecting younger Democratic voters did raise anxiety. In fact, as the final count came in he only won by 6 points, hardly a landslide reelection.

Fortunately, Hickenlooper announced this is his last term. His 23-year political career has had considerable good timing and an unconventional start. He has become a brand and is well served by an unusual name and a slightly goofy persona.

He entered politics as a Denver barman advocating for lower downtown, parlayed it into a surprising but successful campaign for Denver Mayor in 2003. Good fortune came again when Governor Bill Ritter decided to stop after one term, making Hickenlooper the top choice in 2010, a chaotic year for the Republican Party. He won with 51 percent of the vote. Finally, the U.S. Senate became a possibility when Republican Cory Gardner defeated Senator Mark Udall in his 2014 reelection effort but could not withstand the anti-Trump wave in Colorado in his first reelection and lost to Hickenlooper.

How will Hickenlooper adapt to the new political environment? The 2028 presidential election, which will likely bring a Senate change in Colorado, should keep the state’s elections, at least primaries, in flux.

Five Observations from the Colorado Primary

Melat Kiros, a Democratic socialist running to unseat U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, speaks from the steps of the Colorado State Capitol Sunday, June 14. (Adrian O’Farrill, Rocky Mountain PBS via the Colorado Capitol News Alliance)

Colorado 2026 primary hit local politics like a tsunami and kicked the door open for the national conversation on the direction of the Democratic Party. Five observations:

1. Anti-Trump: Opposing President Trump was the top attitude Democrats wanted to see in their candidates. Weiser’s 66 lawsuits against Trump were worth millions from Michael Bloomberg.
   
   
2. Anti-Establishment, Anti-DC: Michael Bennet not only is a long time member of the Washington, DC Democratic establishment. His strategy of a campaign with endorsements from leading politicians and funded by billionaires and corporate donors was exactly the wrong tone and vibe for this electorate.
   
   
3. Ideology: First identified in New York, DSA members have been working steadily to impact the Democratic Party and had success. The Democratic Party’s lack of solutions for the affordability crisis, divisions on Israel, and apparent inability to inhibit Trump has become a major opportunity for far left and socialist appeals.
   
   
4. Generation: The Millennial generation is now a major force in the electorate. They are 30 to 49 years old and with Gen Z, a younger cohort, are starting to dominate politics. Younger, more diverse, more liberal and digital, they want to shake up the system. Younger candidates with passion and outside-the-frame views are favored.
   
   
5. Social Media: While television ads are still prolific in big money races and mailers locally, social media and digital ads are fueling the upsets and insurgencies in 2026.
   
   

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Polling and the New York Primary Warned the Establishment – Change is Coming Jul 6, 2026
Denver Makes Primary History and Leads the Progressive Pack Jul 2, 2026
Millennials/Gen Z Getting into Politics Jul 2, 2026
Colorado’s Embattled Democratic Establishment Jun 25, 2026

Polling and the New York Primary Warned the Establishment – Change is Coming

Phil Weiser at an election night party after winning the Democratic primary. Photo: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Michael Bennet’s two-to-one lead in 2025 and early 2026 dissipated as the anti-establishment-anti-DC trends started to engage Democrats in general, especially Millennials and Gen Z. Fighting president Trump and not being part of the system was a winner.

A May and June poll put Phil Weiser ahead. Notice 15 points moved from undecided to Weiser the last month. The New York primary result of June 23 signaled change was coming. All the final trends worked for Weiser.

Denver Makes Primary History and Leads the Progressive Pack

D1 candidate Melat Kiros' supporters cheer as a second round of election results dropped in her favor, widening her lead over incumbent Diana DeGette. June 30, 2026.
Photo: McKenzie Lange/CPR News

Denver Democratic primary voters changed the direction of Colorado politics. Across the board they provided progressive muscle to local and statewide candidates. Denver’s 155,000 votes were 18% of the statewide vote.

• While John Hickenlooper won statewide (53%-47%), he lost the city he was mayor of to Julie Gonzales by 7 points, 54% to 47%.
• Michael Bennet, former Denver chief of staff and school superintendent, became the face of the corporate DC establishment and lost Denver to Phil Weiser 34% to 66% on his way to losing the election statewide by 13 points.
• Diane DeGette in her 7th Congressional election, did better than Bennet at 40% but lost to Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old socialist, by 13 points.
• Denver’s Progressive voters gave Amanda Gonzales, the socialist-leaning (former DSA member) running for Secretary of State, a 67% margin, helping her to a 28 point win.

Millennials/Gen Z Getting into Politics

Nikita Valdez jumps while cheering after the first report of the election results show Democratic congressional candidate Melat Kiros in the lead during a primary election night watch party at The Broadway, Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Rebecca Slezak)

Millennials, the demographic cohort starting in 1981 and now between 30 and 45 years old, are overtaking the dominant Baby Boom that is entering their 70’s and 80’s. When combined with younger Generation Z (15-29), they together have 40 percent of the population, more than a third of the vote known for their digital fluency and social activism.

The Baby Boomers came to political prominence in Colorado in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Gary Hart, Tim Wirth, Sam Brown, and Pat Schroeder, (anti-war, was elected at 32 years old in 1972) were all strongly supported by Baby Boom voters. In Denver, Federico Pena, the perceived Mamdani of the era, became mayor in 1983, beating the establishment candidates.

Polling in the 2026 Democratic primary reflected the new generation's power and preferences. They are more diverse than the over-45 generations, more liberal, more anti-establishment and they are voting for change. They preferred Phil Weiser and not Diane DeGette. They helped new candidates win legislative primaries and the competitive 8th congressional district insurgent candidate.

The 2026 Democratic Primary Turnout

A voter casts their ballot at a drop box in Denver on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in this file photo. (AP Photo/Chet Strange, File)

Although Colorado paper ballot returns have been slow, competitive races with significant spending tend to produce higher rates of turnout. Also, Donald Trump has increased turnout of Colorado Democrats anxious to send a message. For example, 35 percent of active voters turned out in the very competitive 2018 primary election but a lower 32 percent in 2022, with no statewide officeholders contested.

Will voter turnout above 35 percent help the embattled establishment or the progressive challengers?

READ ARTICLE:
Colorado’s primary turnout tops 10% as election officials warn it’s too late to mail ballots June 24, 2026

Colorado Election Gets Attention

Mr. Weiser, second from left, spoke with voters at Bluebird Café in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Photo: Cheney Orr for The New York Times

After years of mostly one party government and no primaries, Colorado is getting media attention as the nation’s anti-establishment, left-leading movement slams into the state’s Democratic primaries.

The New York Times weekend story on the governor’s race poses Michael Bennet as the big money establishment candidates whose campaign has faded from a 30 point advantage to a toss-up. Opponent Phil Weiser has positioned himself as a fighter in a year the party is hungry for combat with the Trump Administration and is highly anti-establishment.

NY TIMES ARTICLE:
Colorado’s Primary for Governor Pivots to Trump and Who Will Fight Him June 28, 2026