Colorado Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Colorado federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Mark Baisley

Party: Republican

Karen Breslin

Party: Democrat

Janak Joshi

Party: Republican

Julie Gonzales

Party: Democrat

John Hickenlooper

Party: Democrat

OBJ SPEAKING

Create StoryTimelinesVoter ToolsAll StoriesUSWorldPoliticsBusinessHealthEntertainmentTechnologyCommunity PicksAbout
← US Map>Colorado>Senate Race
senate

Colorado Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 6, 2026
📊Polling+3.0 Hickenlooper
Limited general election polling available; Democratic primary shows Hickenlooper with early advantage over Gonzales in initial matchups, though Gonzales gains ground with voter information.
Source: Data for Progress2026-02-25
38%
Hickenlooper
35%
Gonzales
safe d— Cook Political Report

Colorado is a solidly Democratic state; this seat is unlikely to flip and will not affect overall Senate control. The outcome will reinforce Democratic dominance in a state that has shifted significantly left over the past decade.

Mark BaisleyR
Karen BreslinD
Janak JoshiR
Julie GonzalesD
John HickenlooperD

Summary

Mark Baisley is a Colorado state senator representing the 4th district (2023-present) and aerospace engineer. Born in Hastings, Minnesota in 1955, Baisley holds a B.S. in computer information systems/business administration from Columbia College (1993). He is president of Slipglass, Inc., an engineering software firm, and previously served as a state representative. In January 2026, Baisley withdrew from the Colorado gubernatorial race to run for U.S. Senate instead, saying his background in the Colorado legislature made him better suited for the federal office.

Karen Breslin is a political science professor, lawyer, and former federal policy adviser running for the U.S. Senate Democratic primary. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Breslin earned a bachelor's degree from Metro State University (1982), graduate degree from University of Colorado Denver (1989), and law degree from University of Denver (2002). She previously ran for U.S. Senate against Michael Bennet in 2022 and for Congress in Colorado's 4th district in 2024, drawing 19% of delegates at the 2022 state assembly despite minimal fundraising and no prior political experience.

Janak Joshi is a retired Colorado Springs physician and former Republican state legislator who represented District 16 from 2013-2017. The conservative firebrand describes himself as the 'Pro-Trump, America First Republican' and filed for the U.S. Senate race in July 2025, becoming the first well-known Republican candidate to challenge Hickenlooper. Joshi lost bids for re-election to the state House in 2016 and for Congress in the 8th Congressional District in 2024.

Julie Gonzales is a Colorado State Senator representing the 34th district (covering parts of Denver) since 2019. The 42-year-old is a progressive Democrat and experienced legislator who served as Senate Majority Whip. Born on the San Carlos Apache reservation in Arizona, Gonzales grew up in South Texas before moving to Colorado after graduating from Yale University in 2005. She announced her primary challenge against incumbent John Hickenlooper in December 2025, positioning herself as a progressive alternative to his moderate approach.

John Hickenlooper is the incumbent U.S. Senator from Colorado, first elected in 2020. The 73-year-old Denver native previously served as mayor of Denver from 2003 to 2011 and governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019. Hickenlooper briefly sought the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before switching to his successful 2020 Senate campaign. In late 2024, he announced he would seek re-election but indicated this campaign would be his final run for the Senate.

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Limited government and reduced federal spending
  • Support Trump Administration's fiscal approach
Healthcare
  • Market-based healthcare solutions
Other
  • Constitutional conservatism
Healthcare
  • Medicare for All and universal healthcare
Other
  • One-term limit pledge
Defense
  • Stop Trump's 'abusive power grabs'
Economy
  • Economic justice for working Americans
Environment
  • Environmental protection
Immigration
  • Secure the border and restore rule of law
Other
  • Fight 'radical liberal agenda' and 'woke ideology'
  • Common-sense government
Economy
  • Fiscal conservatism - no tax or spending increases
Healthcare
  • Universal healthcare for all Coloradans
Economy
  • More housing, better childcare and elder care
Other
  • Get money out of politics
Justice
  • Protect abortion rights and voting access
Immigration
  • Protect immigrant rights
Environment
  • Urgent climate action
Defense
  • Fight Trump's agenda on public lands and ICE enforcement
Economy
  • Lower prices and help for working families

Key Issue Positions

Government size and spending
Libertarian conservative - minimize government
Defines 'affordability' as 'breathing space' between earnings and living costs. Argues larger government reduces that space, causing family stress.
LGBTQ+ issues
Socially conservative - critical of LGBTQ+ rights
At 2025 gubernatorial forum, described LGBTQ+ colleagues at statehouse as in 'rebellion against the nature of God' and using state 'as their kind of church to force their religious beliefs on the rest of us'
Corporate power and private equity
Anti-corporate, pro-regulation
Supports tougher regulation of private equity and aggressive action against corporate power. Links affordability crisis to corporate influence from homebuilders, private equity firms, and algorithmic price-setting.
Moderate Democrats enabling Trump
Harsh critic of Democratic establishment moderation
Argues Democrats who 'carry corporate water' helped create opening for Trump. Criticizes Hickenlooper's 'extreme moderate' position and accommodation of industry concerns as part of the problem.
Social safety net
Pro-expansion of social programs
Champions programs like SNAP as investments in nation's future. Praises idea of guaranteed minimum income. Argues Democrats have ceded moral ground by letting Republicans define helping people as inappropriate.
Immigration and border security
Hard-line restrictionist - advocates for border wall and enforcement
As immigrant who came legally, emphasizes 'rule of law' and criticizes what he calls Hickenlooper's 'open border' stance.
Opposition to progressive policies
Unrelenting conservative - opposes 'radical liberal agenda'
Fought Hickenlooper's policies while Hickenlooper was governor. Opposes 'woke' policies and progressive legislation.
Hickenlooper's votes for Trump cabinet nominees
Strongly opposes - calls votes 'disqualifying'
Gonzales criticized Hickenlooper for voting to confirm several of Trump's cabinet nominees, arguing these votes demonstrate he is not meeting the moment and represents failed Democratic leadership.
Progressive vs. moderate leadership
Progressive - argues for bold, unapologetic action
Gonzales positions herself as 'willing to be bold, unapologetic and relentless' in contrast to Hickenlooper's described 'go-along-to-get-along' incrementalism.
Trump Cabinet confirmations
Moderate approach - voting to confirm Trump cabinet nominees to maintain relationships
Hickenlooper voted to confirm 10 of Trump's 21 cabinet nominees, among the highest among Senate Democrats. He justified these votes as necessary to maintain 'direct lines' with executive officials to reduce damage to Colorado.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No donor data available.

Joshi campaign funds
$~130K-140K (combined ~$267K with Markert through 3Q 2025)Campaign Committee
Less than 1/10th of Hickenlooper's $3.6M

No donor data available.

Hickenlooper campaign funds
$3.6M (as of Sept 2025)Campaign Committee
Reported significantly more funds than Republican challengers combined ($267K for Joshi and Markert together)

Contradictions

Claim: Promotes himself as experienced legislator ready for federal office
Contradiction: While experienced in state legislature, is least-known Republican candidate in field. Has limited fundraising ($35K for gubernatorial campaign through 3Q 2025) and hopes to raise $25M for Senate race.
Source: Campaign finance reports and news coverage

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Positions himself as principled conservative willing to fight
Contradiction: Joshi lost multiple elections (2016 state House primary, 2024 Congressional primary by huge margins) and has poor name recognition among voters. Despite state GOP endorsement in 2024, lost 8th CD primary overwhelmingly.
Source: Election results and coverage of Joshi's failed campaigns

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Says he is fighting Trump's agenda while voting to confirm Trump cabinet nominees
Contradiction: Hickenlooper voted to confirm 10 of 21 Trump cabinet nominees, placing him among the most pro-Trump voting Senate Democrats despite representing a state Biden won by 11 percentage points.
Source: Colorado Newsline analysis of 2025 Senate voting records; The Hill reporting on cabinet confirmation votes
Claim: Campaign claims to fight for healthcare and lower costs
Contradiction: Political opponents argue his moderate approach and support for Trump nominees undermines efforts to protect healthcare and address cost-of-living crises.
Source: Julie Gonzales campaign statements and primary challenger criticisms

What Opponents Say

Hickenlooper campaign

Baisley is 'too extreme for Colorado'

Campaign characterized Baisley as joining Republican group campaigning to 'prove who would be more loyal to Trump'

Hickenlooper campaign (implied)

Breslin's criticism of moderate Democrats reflects lack of legislative experience and understanding of pragmatic governance

Breslin has run for office multiple times but never won elected office, unlike Hickenlooper with decades of experience

Democratic Party of Colorado

Joshi is 'one of the most far-right politicians in Colorado' and 'too extreme for Colorado'

Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib called Joshi ideal GOP nominee. Hickenlooper campaign characterized him as 'far-right' and focused on Trump loyalty.

Hickenlooper campaign

Democratic Party establishment initially discouraged her from running against an incumbent

Party leaders preferred she challenge Rep. Diana DeGette instead, which Gonzales found sexist. Party later distanced itself from these threats.

Julie Gonzales

Hickenlooper is a 'go-along-to-get-along incrementalist' whose votes for Trump nominees are 'disqualifying'

Gonzales argues Hickenlooper's moderate approach fails to meet the moment of Trump's presidency and represents failed Democratic leadership

Karen Breslin

Hickenlooper's 'extreme moderate' position and accommodation of industry concerns is part of the problem enabling Trump

Breslin criticizes Hickenlooper for voting to confirm Trump appointees and supporting corporate interests over working people

Endorsements

Colorado congressional delegation membersorganization

No endorsements listed.

Colorado Republican Party (2024)organization
Indivisible (national progressive organization)organization
Indivisible Colorado Action Networkorganization
Colorado Democratic Party (formal endorsement process)organization
View Mark Baisley's Full Profile →View Karen Breslin's Full Profile →View Janak Joshi's Full Profile →View Julie Gonzales's Full Profile →View John Hickenlooper's Full Profile →