2020 Colorado Senate election

2020 Colorado Senate election
Elli · CC0 · source
Election name	2020 United States Senate election in Colorado
Country	Colorado
Type	Legislative
Previous election	2014 United States Senate election in Colorado
Previous year	2014
Next election	2026 United States Senate election in Colorado
Next year	2026
Election date	November 3, 2020
Turnout	High
Nominee1	John Hickenlooper
Party1	Democratic Party
Popular vote1	1,731,114
Percentage1	54.3%
Nominee2	Cory Gardner
Party2	Republican Party
Popular vote2	1,321,659
Percentage2	41.5%
Title	U.S. Senator
Before election	Cory Gardner
Before party	Republican Party
After election	John Hickenlooper
After party	Democratic Party

2020 Colorado Senate election The 2020 U.S. Senate election in Colorado was held on November 3, 2020, concurrent with the 2020 United States presidential election and other federal and state elections. Incumbent Cory Gardner sought re-election against former Governor John Hickenlooper, resulting in a high-profile contest that influenced balance in the United States Senate and attracted national attention from the Democratic Party (United States), the Republican Party (United States), and allied organizations.

Background

In 2014, Cory Gardner won a competitive race for the United States Senate, defeating Mark Udall, flipping the seat to the Republicans as part of broader gains during the 2014 United States elections. By 2016 and 2018, demographic and political shifts in Colorado—including trends in the Front Range Urban Corridor, the Denver metropolitan area, and suburban counties like Jefferson County and Arapahoe County—had favored Democrats in federal races. The national prominence of the 2016 United States presidential election and subsequent legislative battles in the United States Senate set the stage for a targeted Democratic effort to reclaim the Colorado seat in 2020.

Candidates

The Democratic field coalesced around John Hickenlooper, who previously served as Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019 and as Mayor of Denver. Hickenlooper had also been a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries before shifting focus to the Senate contest. Other Democrats considered included Andrew Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, though he did not become the nominee.

The Republican incumbent was Cory Gardner, elected in 2014 after serving in the United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 4th congressional district and active in party organizations including the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Other Republican figures mentioned during the cycle included Donald Trump allies and state legislators, but Gardner secured the nomination.

Third-party and independent candidates included members of the Libertarian Party and minor party activists from groups such as independent Unity movements and activists associated with various Colorado political organizations.

Primary elections

The Democratic primary saw John Hickenlooper emerge as the clear frontrunner following his presidential campaign and statewide recognition from his tenure as Governor of Colorado. His primary campaign drew endorsements from prominent Democratic figures, including senators and governors, and mobilized support from organizations aligned with the United States Senate Democratic Campaign Committee.

On the Republican side, Cory Gardner faced primary challengers but retained strong backing from the Republicans, including endorsements from prominent national figures and local party committees. Primary turnout reflected the heightened interest in the 2020 cycle across Colorado precincts and counties, including Boulder County and El Paso County.

General election

The general election was a rematch of statewide prominence: incumbent Cory Gardner versus former Governor John Hickenlooper. The contest was characterized by significant fundraising, outside spending by groups connected to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee and the Senate Majority PAC, and advertising saturation across Denver, Colorado Springs, and media markets covering the Rocky Mountain West. National leaders from the Democratic Party (United States), the Republican Party (United States), and allied political action committees made strategic investments, viewing the race as pivotal for control of the United States Senate.

Campaign issues and debates

Key issues included responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, health policy debates referencing the Affordable Care Act, energy and natural resources discussions involving oil shale and renewable energy initiatives, and debates over federal COVID relief tied to the CARES Act and subsequent legislative proposals. Candidates sparred over Hickenlooper's gubernatorial record on public health and economic recovery, while Gardner defended his voting record in the United States Senate on judiciary nominations and tax policy stemming from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

The campaign featured televised debates and forums in which candidates addressed issues including education policy in Colorado's public school districts, transportation projects impacting the I-70 corridor, and wildfire mitigation strategies affecting counties such as Larimer County and Boulder County. National topics—immigration, Supreme Court confirmations, and federal COVID relief—also framed debate questions, drawing commentary from figures like Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer.

Polling and predictions

Pollsters including firms affiliated with national networks and state-based pollsters tracked the race closely, often showing Hickenlooper with a consistent lead in aggregated surveys as suburban voters shifted toward Democrats in the 2020 cycle. Political handicappers such as those at national outlets and analytic groups rated the contest as leaning toward the Democrats or as a likely pickup, influencing resource allocations by the Senate Majority PAC and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Results and aftermath

On November 3, John Hickenlooper defeated Cory Gardner by a decisive margin, winning a majority of votes in populous areas including Denver County and performing strongly in suburban counties. The outcome contributed to the Democrats' effort to gain Senate seats in the 2020 cycle and reshaped the composition of the United States Senate heading into the 117th United States Congress. Following the election, commentary from national figures including Joe Biden and state officials in Colorado emphasized the significance of the result for federal legislative priorities, confirmation processes, and pandemic response coordination at the state and federal levels.

Category:United States Senate elections in Colorado