Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball has two Senate race rating changes this week: Colorado moves from Toss-up to Leans Democratic, while Alabama moves from Leans Republican to Likely Republican.
Republicans remain favored to hold the majority.
Where Is Cory Gardner?
New York Times: “Mr. Gardner’s invisibility — he hasn’t held a town hall-style meeting in two years — is also pragmatic, a means of avoiding questions about his ties to the divisive president, especially as the Senate impeachment trial nears. If Mr. Gardner ends up vocally supporting the president, or votes to acquit him in the trial, it will complicate and perhaps even endanger his race to hold onto his seat.”
Hickenlooper Holds Wide Lead In Senate Race
A new Keating Research-OnSight Public Affairs-Martin Campaigns Poll in Colorado finds John Hickenlooper (D) leads Sen. Cory Gardner (R) in a theoretical Senate matchup next year by 11 points, 53% to 42%.
Gardner Won’t Answer About Election Interference
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) repeatedly refused to answer a “hypothetical question” from KDVR about whether it would be acceptable for a president to request election assistance from a foreign power.
Hickenlooper Posts Big Haul for Senate Bid
“John Hickenlooper raised more than $2.1 million for his U.S. Senate campaign in less than six weeks, a record haul in Colorado that affirms his Democratic front-runner status in a top-tier race,” the Colorado Sun reports.
Hickenlooper Clears the Field
Dan Baer (D) told 9News that he is leaving the Democratic U.S. Senate primary and endorsing the frontrunner, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D).
Three of the top four candidates who were running before Hickenlooper entered the race have now dropped out.
Johnston Bows Out of Colorado Senate Race
Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Mike Johnston (D) said he is suspending his campaign, the Denver Post reports.
“Johnston, a 44-year-old former state senator, led the crowded Democratic field this year in fundraising and was a top-tier candidate in the polls. But former Gov. John Hickenlooper’s (D) decision to run left him with a questionable path to victory in next year’s Democratic Senate primary.”
Said Johnston: “I think his entrance required this to be a very different kind of race and required a negative race that’s not one that matches my values and how I would want to lead.”
DSCC Pressured Consultants on Colorado Senate Race
“Before the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) in a 2020 Senate race, it pressured consultants from at least five firms not to work with a leading progressive in the race,” the candidate told The Intercept.
Said Andrew Romanoff: “They’ve made it clear to a number of the firms and individuals we tried to hire that they wouldn’t get any business in Washington or with the DSCC if they worked with me. It’s been a well-orchestrated operation to blackball ragtag grassroots teams.”
Hickenlooper Endorsement Divides Colorado Democrats
“A decision by national Democrats to throw their support behind John Hickenlooper in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race sparked an intense email discussion among state Democratic Party officers over the weekend, with allusions to Nazism, criticisms of Hickenlooper and calls for formal opposition,” the Denver Post reports.
“The emails offer a window into an intraparty conflict that is sure to spill out in public for weeks and months to come as Democrats debate who should be their nominee to take on Republican Sen. Cory Gardner.”
Hickenlooper Will Run for Senate
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) announced that he will run for Senate, the Denver Post reports.
Said Hickenlooper: “I’ve always said Washington was a lousy place for a guy like me who wants to get things done — but this is no time to walk away from the table. I’m not done fighting for the people of Colorado.
A new Emerson poll shows Hickenlooper beating Sen. Cory Garner (R), 53% to 40%.
Bennet Says Hickenlooper Would Be ‘Excellent Senator’
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) said former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), his fellow Coloradan and former rival in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, would make an “excellent senator” should he decide to challenge Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Politico reports.
Said Bennet: “I believe — because he’s been, you know, an excellent mayor, an excellent governor — I don’t have any doubt that, if he decided to run, he’d be an excellent senator.”
Hickenlooper Officially Drops Presidential Bid
John Hickenlooper has just posted a video announcing he is suspending his presidential bid, confirming earlier reports that he would drop out.
He sidestepped whether he would seek the state’s Senate seat: “I’ve heard from so many Coloradans who want me to run for the United States Senate. They remind me how much is at stake for our country. And our state. I intend to give that some serious thought.”
Hickenlooper Mulling Run for Senate
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) “is in discussions about ending his presidential bid and entering the race for his state’s Republican-held Senate seat, potentially giving Democrats a strong candidate in a race they must win to have hopes of retaking the chamber in 2021,” the New York Times reports.
“Mr. Hickenlooper, who is mired at the bottom of public polling of the presidential race, hopped into Sen. Michael Bennet’s car on Friday night in this Northern Iowa town to discuss his impending decision, said Democrats familiar with the discussion.”
Democratic Group Backs Hickenlooper for Senate
The Democratic group 314 Action, which supports candidates with a science background, is launching a six-figure “Draft Hickenlooper” campaign Tuesday to encourage John Hickenlooper to drop out of the 2020 presidential race and instead run for Senate, Axios has learned.
Hickenlooper Cracks Door Open to Senate Run
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) “has left the door open a crack to running against Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), even while insisting he’s fully committed to pursuing the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination,” the Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
Hickenlooper said he would “be a fool” to continue running for president if his standing in the polls doesn’t improve, while adding, “I’ve never ruled out anything.”
Is Hickenlooper Preparing to Run for Senate?
A Colorado political consultant registered several domain names last week that point to a possible U.S. Senate bid by former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D), according to Colorado Pols.
“Now before anybody gets carried away, there’s always the possibility that these were contingency purchases for a decision that hasn’t been finalized yet.”
Democrats Urge Hickenlooper, Bullock to Run for Senate
“Democrats on Capitol Hill have a message for presidential hopefuls John Hickenlooper, the former governor of Colorado, and Steve Bullock, the current governor of Montana: you’d make great senators,” CNN reports.
“Hickenlooper and Bullock have struggled to gain traction in a crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates, but as governors, they have already proven they can be elected statewide. As Democrats gear up for a fight for the Senate, many are quick to say they believe Hickenlooper and Bullock would make formidable challengers to Republican senators up for re-election in Colorado and Montana.”
Hickenlooper Is Senate Favorite for Colorado Democrats
Although former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) has said repeatedly that he has no intention of abandoning his struggling White House bid to challenge Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), a new Public Policy Polling survey finds Hickenlooper would crush any challengers in a Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
He’s leading the closest challenger, Andrew Romanoff, by 44% to 12%. No other possible candidate gets more than 4% support.
