Hickenlooper survives primary, DeGette too close to call in Colorado races

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

Democrats in Colorado survived some primary challenges on Tuesday night while other races were too close to call.

Outspoken Democratic Socialist candidates sought to oust more traditional Democratic candidates in the state as the party seeks to retake control of Congress in November.

Here are early results in some of those races.

U.S. Senate

Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, overcame a challenge from Democratic Socialist Julie Gonzales, who repeatedly criticized him as a “go-along-to-get-along” candidate and for approving 10 of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. Hickenlooper won with 56.64% of the ballots or 380,098 votes as of 9:20 p.m. MST Tuesday.

Hickenlooper, 74, previously said he would not run again for the U.S. Senate if he wins in November. Gonzales criticized his moderate positions on several key issues.

“My track record shows that I don’t shy away from big fights,” Hickenlooper told The Center Square. “As governor, we expanded healthcare to half a million Coloradans and created the world’s first methane regulations to fight climate change. We took on the NRA and won, creating strong gun control laws and saving lives. We helped save and pass the largest investment to fight climate change — ever.”

Hickenlooper is set to face off against Mark Baisley, who easily secured the Republican nomination as the only candidate in the primary. Baisley called for increased enforcement against fraud in Colorado and supported immigration enforcement.

“It’s so critical that we stop requiring Americans to fund healthcare and the mental health of folks who are in the country uninvited,” Baisley said. “They need to go home.”

Hickenlooper has a massive fundraising advantage over Baisley with more than $5.7 million in contributions toward his campaign over the last year, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings.

He has received contributions from the Solar Energy Industry Political Action Committee, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC and the American Financial Services Association PAC.

Baisley has slightly more than $74,000 in campaign contributions, according to the Federal Election Commission. Most of his contributions are small, individual donations.

U.S. House

District 1

Christy Peterson, the lone Republican in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, will face off against a challenger who was yet to be determined on Tuesday night.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colorado, and Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros were closely competing in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s 1st Congressional District, entirely made up of Denver, on Tuesday night.

Melat Kiros, a former lawyer, is challenging DeGette for the Democratic nomination. Kiros, a Democratic Socialist, has sharply criticized DeGette’s term in Congress and vowed to defeat her.

Kiros held a lead over DeGette with 48.58% of the ballots or 53,395 votes at 9 p.m. MST on Tuesday, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. DeGette held 44.15% of the ballots or 48,518 votes. More than 109,900 votes were cast.

“Establishment Democrats are beholden to the same billionaires who keep our prices high, burn our planet, and profit from a genocide. We can change that. It starts by changing who we send to Congress,” Kiros’ website reads.

DeGette has pushed back against criticisms of her tenure as she seeks a 16th term in Congress. She said she has pushed for Medicare for All and criticized other candidates for their lack of experience.

“It would be a very bad choice to pick somebody who has never served in Congress or a legislature,” DeGette said.

Peterson applauded the Trump administration’s efforts to pursue fraud in federal programs. She called on further investigations and prosecutions of fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

“So-called ‘good’ programs are not helping people. They’re creating government dependency,” Peterson said.

Degette led fundraising efforts in the district with more than $975,000 in campaign contributions, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings. She received $1,000 from the Johnson and Johnson PAC, Dominion Energy PAC and $2,500 from the Liberty Mutual Insurance PAC.

Kiros follows behind DeGette with more than $376,000. She has vowed against taking donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other corporate PACs.

District 2

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado, sailed to an easy victory in his party’s primary on Tuesday night. He was unopposed. He will face off against Republican candidate Kelley Dennison in November.

Neguse has boasted of his record protecting environmental concerns in Colorado. He pointed to his support of the CORE Act, legislation that would permanently protect more than 400,000 acres of land in Colorado from oil and gas development.

“Joe is committed to preserving Colorado’s treasured public spaces, investing in our outdoor recreation economy, safeguarding wildlife and biodiversity and tackling western wildfires,” Neguse’s website reads.

Dennison, a massage therapist, secured the Republican nomination over competitor Christina Blunt. Dennison received 58.42% of the vote as of 9 p.m. MST local on Tuesday, with 27,122 total ballots counted in the district.

She has advocated for protecting the natural environment in Colorado, similar to Neguse.

“Protecting Colorado’s environment should not mean destroying the livelihoods of ranchers, farmers, energy workers, small towns, or outdoor industries that depend on responsible land use,” Dennison’s website reads.

Neguse raised more than $2 million in campaign contributions, according to FEC filings. He received a contribution for $1,000 from Booz Allen Hamilton PAC, a well-known defense contractor; $2,500 from the American Hospital Association PAC and $1,000 from Universal Music Group Action Fund.

Dennison does not have campaign finance data associated with her FEC profile. She did not respond to requests for comment or an interview from The Center Square to explain the discrepancy.

District 4

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, will face off against Eileen Laubacher, a Democrat who has raised millions of dollars to unseat her in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. Both candidates ran unopposed in their respective party primaries on Tuesday.

Boebert introduced a bill in May to eliminate taxes on the purchase, transfer or production of firearms. She also supported a bill from U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, to eliminate capital gains taxes on property owned by family farms.

Laubacher, a Navy veteran, criticized Boebert’s support for President Donald Trump’s agenda and her vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Seniors can’t afford cuts to Social Security, especially with costs at an all time high,” Laubacher told The Center Square, answering questions by email. “We need to hold our government to account and rein in costly policies.”

Laubacher leads the race with more than $8.5 million in contributions toward her campaign, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings. More than $5 million of that total comes from small donations from individuals across the country.

Laubacher said she would never take donations from corporate political action committees or corporations.

Boebert trails Laubacher considerably with more than $746,000 in contributions.

Boebert has received contributions from the House Freedom Caucus and $10,500 from the Maverick PAC USA, a group for young conservative business professionals.

Colorado voters will return to the polls on Nov. 3 to elect members of the U.S. Senate and House as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of Congress during a crucial midterm election.

To stay updated on election results, visit thecentersquare.com/colorado.