Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper will run for a final term in 2026

By 
 August 23, 2024

Democrats face uncertain prospects in the Senate this year as vulnerable incumbents fend off challenges in red and swing states.

Although Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper is not among them, he recently confirmed plans to quit in the future. 

Hickenlooper says he will run for a final term in two years and then leave Senate

According to the Daily Caller, Hickenlooper revealed during an interview with Punchbowl News this week that while he does plan to seek reelection in 2026, it will be his last term in office.

"I'm only going to do two terms," the 72-year-old lawmaker was quoted as saying. "I said it first here. Two-term limit. Oath of conscience."

Hickenlooper also talked up Vice President Kamala Harris' chances against President Donald Trump, saying, "The level of excitement and enthusiasm is off the charts."

The freshman senator went on to assert that he has not "seen anything close to this" since former President Barack Obama campaigned for the White House in 2008.

Hickenlooper faced ethics allegations during his 2020 Senate run

He further maintained that Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown "are two of the best senators of either party" and predicted that they will win in November.

The Daily Caller pointed out that Hickenlooper's own past presidential ambitions came to little, as he dropped out of the Democratic primary in 2019 following a six-month campaign.

What's more, Hickenlooper was also dogged by ethics complaints during his 2020 Senate race against incumbent Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner.

The Daily Caller recalled how an ethics commission concluded that while serving as Colorado governor in 2018, Hickenlooper illegally accepted a flight on a private jet to Connecticut as well as a limousine ride in Italy.

Ethics commission fined Hickenlooper over acceptance of illegal gifts

While The Hill reported that those two favors were worth a combined total of $1,375, the Colorado State Constitution bars public officials and their family members from receiving gifts worth more than $53.

Hickenlooper was ultimately fined $2,200 for his plane ride to Connecticut and another $550 over his Italian limousine jaunt.

Melissa Miller served as Hickenlooper's campaign spokesperson, and she told The Colorado Sun that "Gov. Hickenlooper accepts the Commission’s findings and takes responsibility."

" A free people [claim] their rights, as derived from the laws of nature."
Thomas Jefferson