Who is running for U.S. Senator in 2026?

U.S. Senator from Colorado (since 2021)

John Hickenlooper is the incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator from Colorado, first elected in 2020, and is on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot for a second term²⁰¹⁵. Before the Senate he was Colorado's governor from 2011 to 2019 and Denver's mayor from 2003 to 2011, and he started out as a geologist and brewpub founder¹⁵²¹. He beat state Sen. Julie Gonzales in the June 30, 2026 Democratic primary¹⁸.

Where they stand 17 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)high

  Voted · high confidence

  • Voted yes on cloture to take up the Women's Health Protection Act (the motion failed 46 to 48). (2022-02-28) source
  • Voted yes again on cloture to take up the Women's Health Protection Act (the motion failed 49 to 51). (2022-05-11) source
  • Cosponsored the Women's Health Protection Act of 2025 from its introduction. (2025-06-24) source
  • Said the Dobbs decision shredded 50 years of precedent, that Americans overwhelmingly support Roe's protections, and "Let's return those rights back where they belong." (2025-06-24) source
• GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazineshigh

  Official action · high confidence

  • Cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2023. (2023-01-23) source
  • Cosponsored the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025. (2025-04-30) source
  • Cosponsored the Background Check Expansion Act (S. 494) from its introduction in 2023. (2023-02-16) source
  • Cosponsored the Background Check Expansion Act (S. 3214) from its introduction in 2025 (the same bill in a later Congress, one action). (2025-11-19) source
  • His campaign site says that as governor he created sweeping gun safety reform including universal background checks and limits on high capacity magazines, and that he supports legislation to expand background checks to all gun sales and ban assault weapons. (2026) source
• Campaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignshigh

  Said · high confidence

  • His campaign site says he supports overturning the Citizens United ruling, is fighting dark money, and sponsors legislation for stricter regulations and disclosures for money in politics. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on cloture to take up the For the People Act, which included small-donor public financing and disclosure rules (the motion failed 50 to 50). (2021-06-22) source
• Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Cosponsored the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S. 1879), which was sponsored by Sen. Jon Ossoff. (2025-12-16) source
  • His campaign site says he has championed legislation to stop lawmakers from using their position to enrich themselves. (2026) source
• Kids onlineAlso require safe-by-default design and a legal duty of caremedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Cosponsored the Kids Online Safety Act from its introduction in the 118th Congress. (2023-05-02) source
  • Cosponsored the 2025 Kids Online Safety Act. (2025-06-11) source
• Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted for the HALT Fentanyl Act (passed 84 to 16), which adds fentanyl-related substances to the drug schedules with mandatory minimum penalties. (2025-03-14) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on cloture to take up the For the People Act (S. 2093), which creates independent redistricting commissions and bans partisan gerrymandering (the motion failed 50 to 50). (2021-06-22) source
  • Voted yes on cloture to take up the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), which bans partisan gerrymandering but has no commission mandate (the motion failed 49 to 51). (Supporting evidence only: it bans partisan gerrymandering but has no commission mandate.) (2021-10-20) source
• Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he would reimpose the higher federal income tax rates on the nation's biggest earners that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced, while making the tax break for tipped employees permanent. (2026-10-05) source
• HealthcareAdd a government plan anyone can buy into (a public option)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he supports a public health insurance option, does not think private insurance should be eliminated, and wants total transparency in healthcare pricing. (2026-10-05) source
• Energy and climateAn aggressive shift to clean energy with firm deadlinesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said the only way to battle climate change long term is to transition to clean energy with no carbon emissions, that natural gas use will be necessary in the meantime, and that "with the right leadership we could easily make 2050." (2026-10-05) source
• AI regulationFederal safety rules for powerful AI, with states free to add moremedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said Congress should regulate AI, with third-party evaluators, a way to sue AI developers for damages, and protection for private data. (2026-10-05) source
  • Introduced the VET AI Act with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito to set guidelines for independent third-party evaluation of AI systems. (2024-07-25) source
• Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chambermedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said senators should be limited to two terms and House members to between four and six terms. (2026-10-05) source
• Election rulesEasier access: automatic registration and mail voting for anyonemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says that as governor he helped create the gold standard for universal vote-by-mail, and that as senator he is fighting efforts to end vote by mail. (2026) source
• Supreme Court reformAdd 18-year term limits and an enforceable ethics code, keeping nine seatslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said he is open to 18-year Supreme Court terms as long as they are staggered so no single president appoints the whole Court. (2026-10-05) source
  • Cosponsored the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act in 2023. (2023-07-25) source
  • Cosponsored the 2025 Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act. (2025-05-20) source
• ImmigrationTighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentslow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said people who have been working and paying taxes should at least get a guest-worker visa, that DACA recipients should have a pathway to citizenship, and that he is open to other pathways; he also said legal pathways are enough but are being dismantled. (2026-10-05) source
  • His campaign site says ICE needs to be completely overhauled or shut down, and he introduced legislation to ban ICE agents from wearing masks and from raids at sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals. (2026) source
• Drug pricesKeep Medicare negotiation and the current caps about as they arelow

  Said · low confidence

  • His Senate office's health care page says he supported amendments to protect the prescription drug negotiation provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and has led bills on generic competition, drug patent abuses and third-party middlemen. (2026) source
• Aid to IsraelKeep it, but with conditions on how weapons are used and aid to Gazalow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said he is guarded about giving Israel more offensive weapons and munitions and wants to focus on helping it defend itself. (2026-10-05) source

No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Marijuana, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Libertarian Party nominee; former state party chair

Blake Huber is the Libertarian Party nominee for U.S. Senate and a longtime political activist and election reform advocate who has served as state chair of the Libertarian Party¹². He has more than 30 years of management experience overseeing apartment communities, a small business, a motel and teams of network engineers². He ran on the Approval Voting Party ticket for vice president in 2016, for Colorado secretary of state in 2018, and for president in 2020 and 2024².

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Retired U.S. Navy commander; former small-business owner and computer network administrator

Christopher Baum is a retired U.S. Navy commander, former small-business owner and computer network administrator based in Denver¹. He is the Approval Voting Party nominee for U.S. Senate²¹. He served in the Navy from 1967 to 1987 and ran for Colorado's 8th Congressional District in 2024³¹.

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Engineer and businessman; retired company CEO

Bob Chew is a Boulder engineer and businessman who is the Forward Party nominee for U.S. Senate¹². A former nuclear submarine officer, he co-founded an engineering and technical services company and sold it to its employees through an employee stock ownership plan in 2008²³. He says the national debt, Social Security and health care costs are his main issues, and he has put more than $1 million of his own money into the campaign²³.

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Colorado state senator (since 2023); state representative 2019 to 2023

Mark Baisley is a Republican state senator from Woodland Park and the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate⁶⁷. He served in the Colorado House from 2019 to 2023 and has been in the state Senate since 2023, after a career in aerospace, national security and cybersecurity⁷⁴. He switched from the governor's race to the Senate race in January 2026 and was unopposed for the Republican nomination⁸.

Where they stand 10 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• GunsRemove most restrictions; bearing arms is a rightmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Was a prime sponsor in the state Senate of the Second Amendment Protection Act (HB26-1021), which would repeal state laws on private-sale background checks, the waiting period, the minimum purchase age of 21 and large parts of the state's other gun laws (the bill was postponed indefinitely). (2026-01-14) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestmedium

  Questionnaire answer · medium confidence

  • In his 2020 iVoterGuide questionnaire for the Nov. 3, 2020 State House District 39 race, wrote that abortion should be allowed "Only if required to SAVE THE LIFE of the mother (not merely to avoid health challenges)," and strongly agreed that human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection. (2020) source
  • Voted no on final passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act in the Colorado House (passed 40 to 24). (2022-03-14) source
• ImmigrationDeport everyone here illegally, as quickly as possiblemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Answered "No. We should not be the relief valve for all the dysfunctional countries around the world" when asked whether anyone already living in the U.S. illegally should be permitted to stay. (2026-10-05) source
  • Was a prime sponsor of SB25-047, which recreates a 2006 law requiring peace officers with probable cause to report people not legally present to ICE and repeals Colorado limits such as the courthouse arrest protection (the bill was postponed indefinitely). It fits answers 0 and 1 alike, so it is supporting evidence only. (2025) source
• Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he loves that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made nearly all of the 2017 federal income tax cuts permanent and named no part of it he would change. (2026-10-05) source
• Trade and tariffsHigh tariffs to bring manufacturing home, even if prices risemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he is generally in favor of tariffs and would like to see tariffs replace the income tax. (2026-10-05) source
• HealthcareMostly private market; roll back the government's rolemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Backs Sen. Rick Scott's More Affordable Care Act to shift subsidies to consumers, and said he would push health savings accounts for routine care and limit insurance use to catastrophic events. (2026-10-05) source
  • In his 2020 iVoterGuide questionnaire for the State House race, asked what government spending he would reduce to balance the budget, wrote "Remove all government healthcare spending." (2020) source
• Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he supports the Medicaid work requirements in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, while saying he is concerned they could keep people who need the program from getting it. (2026-10-05) source
• Energy and climateAll of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said "No, I don't think we should stop using carbon-emitting" sources, but supports government investment in clean energy research, particularly hydrogen and nuclear power. (2026-10-05) source
• Nuclear powerAllow new reactors, keeping the NRC's full safety reviews and independencelow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said "Let's get back on the nuclear track and just do that very safely," and cited his unsuccessful state bill to allow uranium mining in western Colorado. (2026-10-05) source
• Term limitsYes, but longer limits that still allow long service, such as 12 years per chamberlow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said he would be open to a term limit of 12 to 18 years for members of Congress and opposes term limits for Supreme Court justices. (2026-10-05) source

No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Educator, builder and mountain guide (Walsenburg)

Adam Withrow is the Unity Party nominee for U.S. Senate, an educator, builder and mountain guide who says he has worked as a ranch hand, nursing assistant, cook, contractor and detention officer⁶¹⁷. He describes himself as a working-class candidate who is not beholden to either party or to campaign donors¹. His platform centers on a federal living wage tied to inflation, health care for all, clean energy and an anti-war foreign policy¹⁴.

Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Minimum wageRaise it higher and tie it to the cost of livingmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said he wants a federal living wage tied to the Consumer Price Index so that wages rise when prices do, rolled out slowly starting with the most profitable companies. (2026-10-01) source
  • Listed a federal living wage tied to the Consumer Price Index as his top campaign message. (2026) source
• Foreign policyPull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said the U.S. should make a unilateral declaration of peace, shut down its global military empire, and stop policing the world, while still defending itself. (2026-10-01) source
  • Wrote that until the U.S. becomes a better nation for itself it has no business attempting to police the world. (2026) source
• HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says the private insurance industry "is a scam" and "must be abolished" ultimately, and that in the meantime Medicaid, VA coverage and Medicare should be brought up to private insurance levels and a public not-for-profit buy-in option created. (2026) source
  • His campaign site says health care for all would cost less than half of the defense budget. (2026) source
• Energy and climateA gradual shift to cleaner energy, driven by incentivesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site calls fossil fuels obsolete and calls for a smooth transition starting today, through a permanent solar tax credit, new installation rebates and clean energy technology, while limiting drilling expansion and respecting people who cannot afford to convert. (2026) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Business regulation, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.