6 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
6 candidates · ballot order · John Hickenlooper currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Addressing what he calls 'the affordability emergency' — housing, health and energy costs.
Bipartisan collaboration, including regularly hosting cross-party dinners.
Clean energy development and the jobs he argues it creates in Colorado.
Preventing corporations from dominating the housing market.
Continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine.
Opposition to the current administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and its cuts to federal funding for Colorado.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Senator from Colorado since January 2021.
Governor of Colorado, 2011–2019; Mayor of Denver, 2003–2011.
Helped negotiate and pass the Inflation Reduction Act.
Helped pass the ROAD to Housing Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Attracted bipartisan cosponsors on more bills than any other Senate sophomore in 2024, per GovTrack.
Voted to confirm several of President Trump's cabinet nominees.
Won the June 30 2026 Democratic primary with 52.8%, about 472,870 votes.
Reported more than $4 million cash on hand, after raising over $1 million each quarter since 2025.
Arguments in favor
He helped negotiate and pass the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the ROAD to Housing Act — bringing clean energy jobs, transportation and broadband funding to Colorado and taking on corporate ownership of housing.
— John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate campaign
He got bipartisan cosponsors on more bills than any other Senate sophomore in 2024, and has built working relationships across the aisle on public lands and other issues.
— GovTrack.us 2024 report card
He has been an outspoken critic of the administration's cuts to federal funding for Colorado, its immigration enforcement tactics, and Republican opposition to further aid for Ukraine.
— John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate campaign
Arguments against
He voted to confirm several of President Trump's cabinet nominees, which his critics treat as evidence he does not fight when it counts.
— State Sen. Julie Gonzales, his Democratic primary opponent
He is part of the establishment and represents the status quo at a moment that calls for disruption of it.
— State Sen. Julie Gonzales, his Democratic primary opponent
His biggest weakness is that he is fighting Donald Trump rather than working with the administration on behalf of Colorado.
— State Sen. Mark Baisley, his Republican opponent
What we couldn’t verify
Which cabinet nominees he voted to confirm and his stated reasons.
Whether he has committed publicly to this being his final term; reporting describes it that way but no direct statement was located.
Opposition to Colorado gun restrictions, including 'ghost gun' legislation, which he argues infringes constitutional rights.
Opposition to what he describes as radical and in some cases 'blatantly unconstitutional' bills passed by Colorado Democrats.
Support for federal immigration enforcement operations.
Alignment with President Trump's agenda.
A socially conservative view of gender and sexuality in public policy.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Colorado State Senator for District 4 since January 2023.
Colorado State Representative for House District 39, 2021–2023.
President of Slipglass, Inc., an engineering software firm.
Entered the 2026 governor's race in March 2025, then withdrew and launched his Senate campaign in January 2026.
Advanced to the nomination as the only Republican to reach 30% support at the Republican State Assembly.
Appeared at an election conspiracy rally outside the state Capitol alongside indicted Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
Described LGBTQ colleagues in the state legislature as being in 'rebellion against the nature of God' at a Republican gubernatorial forum.
Arguments in favor
He has stood against Colorado gun-control measures such as the ghost-gun bills, arguing they infringe constitutional rights, and against what he calls a legislature passing blatantly unconstitutional bills.
— State Sen. Mark Baisley
He has a record of building coalitions in the state Senate even while voting contrarian, according to his own account of his legislative approach.
— State Sen. Mark Baisley, in a Q&A with Colorado Politics
He would work with the Trump administration on Colorado's behalf rather than fighting it, which he presents as the difference between him and the incumbent.
— State Sen. Mark Baisley
Arguments against
He has promoted conspiracy theories and misinformation about the legitimacy of elections, particularly the 2020 presidential election, and appeared at an election conspiracy rally with indicted Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
— States United Action, an election law organisation
He is too extreme for Colorado, and joined a field of Republican candidates competing over who would be most loyal to Donald Trump.
— John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate campaign
After the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti he blamed ICE protesters for the violence, and claimed ICE 'effectively saved' a five-year-old boy it had detained with his father and sent to Texas, away from their family.
— Sen. John Hickenlooper, who publicly challenged the remarks, which Baisley then confirmed
What we couldn’t verify
His positions on health care, agriculture and federal spending; no detailed policy platform could be located.
His campaign fundraising.
His current position on the 2020 election result, as distinct from his 2022-era statements and appearances.
Approval voting as an alternative election method; his other 2026 policy positions could not be established from sources located.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Certified as the Approval Voting Party's nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado for 2026.
No elected office located.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated positions on essentially every issue beyond electoral method.
No coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either.
His background, occupation and any campaign finance filings.
Forward Party platform positions; his specific 2026 policy positions could not be established from sources located.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Certified as the Forward Party's nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado for 2026.
No elected office located.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated positions on essentially every issue.
No coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either.
His background, occupation and any campaign finance filings.
Libertarian Party platform positions; his specific 2026 policy positions could not be established from sources located.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Certified as the Libertarian Party's nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado for 2026.
Has been a repeat minor-party candidate in Colorado.
No elected office located.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated positions on essentially every issue.
No coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either.
His prior campaigns and vote shares, and any campaign finance filings.
Unity Party platform positions; his specific 2026 policy positions could not be established from sources located.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Certified as the Unity Party's nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado for 2026.
No elected office located.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
His stated positions on essentially every issue.
No coverage critical of him by name could be located, so no arguments against him are recorded here. With no criticism available, no arguments for him are recorded either.
His background, occupation and any campaign finance filings.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Roster established from Colorado Public Radio, NBC News, Colorado Newsline and Politics1's Colorado candidate listing, cross-checked. Democratic incumbent John Hickenlooper won the June 30 2026 primary with 52.8% over state Sen. Julie Gonzales. Mark Baisley was the only Republican to clear 30% at the Republican State Assembly and so advanced unopposed. Colorado certifies minor parties readily, and four minor-party candidates are on the ballot alongside the two major nominees: Chris Baum (Approval Voting Party), Bob Chew (Forward Party), Blake Huber (Libertarian) and Adam Withrow (Unity Party). Three declared write-in candidates — Ryan Apelbaum, Will Powers and Don Willoughby — are not printed on the ballot and are not listed below. Nonpartisan forecasters rate this among the least competitive Senate seats on the 2026 map. Almost no substantive coverage of the four minor-party candidates could be located, so each carries low confidence and no arguments in either column.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
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