Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning breaks the news: state Sen. Julie Gonzales is launching a primary against U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, pitching herself as the fighter Colorado needs and framing Hick as a bystander from the clubby old playbook. The piece lists Gonzales’ record on abortion, voting rights, renters and consumers, and her pledge to take that combativeness to Washington.
Hickenlooper, a two-term governor and former Denver mayor, is favored on paper in a state pundits rate safely Democratic, but money and momentum matter. He sits on a sizable war chest. Meanwhile, Republicans in the mix include former state Rep. Janak Joshi and retired Marine Col. George Markert, with more filings on the board. Primary day is June 30, with ballot access via assemblies or petitions starting in January.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Gonzales jumps in with a “fighter, not bystander” pitch and a swipe at party bosses managing primaries from the top down.
- She touts authorship of progressive laws and blasts Washington as a piggy bank for billionaires and insiders.
- Hick seeks a second term, backed by cash and incumbency in a state analysts rank safely blue.
- GOP field so far: Janak Joshi and George Markert. Fundraising lags the incumbent by miles.
- Calendar check: Colorado’s primary is June 30; candidates can qualify through assemblies or by petition beginning in January.
My Bottom Line
This one surprised and frankly spooked me. Democrats usually keep the family drama behind closed doors. A serious primary against an incumbent U.S. senator says the Mile-High AOC wing wants the steering wheel. If Gonzales wins, we are importing Seattle politics to the Front Range, complete with the Santa-Claus theory of government. Young voters line up with stockings hung by the chimney, waiting for the next election-cycle toy drop.
Let me be clear. “The Senadora” is as liberal as they come. If she catches fire, expect promises that sound like free everything, paid for by someone else, delivered by a government that cannot fix the DMV. Meanwhile, affordability keeps collapsing under the weight of mandates and fees. You want more Weld County, not more Washington, D.C.
Could this open a lane for a real Republican? Yes. Will it? That depends on whether we run a serious, disciplined candidate with a kitchen-table message. Dr. Janak is a nice man. I do not see him toppling either Democrat in a statewide. Voters need an adult with receipts, not a press release.
Bottom line: This race is now a referendum on whether Colorado wants an activist with a bullhorn or a senator who can count votes and deliver. If Gonzales takes the primary, buckle up. If Hick survives, he will still be dragged left. Either way, conservatives had better be ready with a compelling alternative that talks about work, cost of living, energy, and safety, not Twitter spats.
Source: Colorado Politics
