Hickenlooper wins Colorado Senate Democratic primary over Gonzales

Key Points:

• Sen. John Hickenlooper won Colorado’s Democratic Senate primary, defeating state Sen. Julie Gonzales with 57% of the vote, and is favored to win the general election in the blue-leaning state.
• Hickenlooper, 74, a former governor and Denver mayor, has said this will likely be his final campaign for elected office and emphasized his bipartisan approach during the campaign.
• Gonzales, a former Democratic Socialist, criticized Hickenlooper for his Senate voting record, including support for some Trump Cabinet nominees and opposition to Medicare for All, while Hickenlooper defended his pragmatic record.
• Hickenlooper outraised and outspent Gonzales, focusing on issues like opposing ICE funding, protecting healthcare, and preserving public lands, while Gonzales campaigned on progressive policies such as Medicare for All and universal childcare.
• In the general election, Hickenlooper will face Republican Mark Baisley, who has been portrayed by Democrats as too conservative for Colorado, a state that has trended increasingly Democratic in recent years.