John Hickenlooper

John Hickenlooper
Born	John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. 7 2, 1952
Birthplace	Narberth, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, geologist, businessman
Known for	42nd Governor of Colorado, 43rd Mayor of Denver, U.S. Senator from Colorado
Education	Wesleyan University (B.A., M.A.)
Spouse(s)	Template:Plainlist
Awards	TIME "Best Big-City Mayors" (2005)
Website	[https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/ Official site]

John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. (born February 7, 1952) is an American politician, geologist, and businessman serving as the junior United States senator from Colorado since January 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Hickenlooper previously served as the 42nd Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019 and as the 43rd Mayor of Denver from 2003 to 2011. Before entering politics, Hickenlooper worked as a petroleum geologist and co-founded the Wynkoop Brewing Company, one of the first brewpubs in the United States, in Denver's then-declining Lower Downtown neighborhood. His path from laid-off geologist to brewpub entrepreneur to mayor to governor and ultimately to the U.S. Senate traces an unconventional trajectory through American political life. As governor, he signed significant gun control legislation in the wake of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting, expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and oversaw the implementation of Colorado's voter-approved marijuana legalization. In 2019, he briefly sought the Democratic nomination for president of the United States before withdrawing and launching a successful campaign for the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent Republican Cory Gardner in the 2020 general election. At 68, Hickenlooper became the oldest person to win a first term as a U.S. senator from Colorado.

Early Life

John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. was born on February 7, 1952, in Narberth, Pennsylvania, a borough in Montgomery County on the outskirts of Philadelphia. His family name is of Dutch origin, and the Hickenlooper family has deep roots in American history. His father, John Wright Hickenlooper Sr., was an attorney who died when Hickenlooper was a child, leaving his mother, Anne Doughten Morris, to raise the family. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, Hickenlooper experienced the loss of his father at a young age, an event that shaped much of his early life.

Hickenlooper had a cousin, George Hickenlooper, who became a noted documentary filmmaker and feature film director. George Hickenlooper died in 2010 at the age of 47; the Denver medical examiner determined his death was caused by an accidental drug overdose.

After growing up in Pennsylvania, Hickenlooper eventually relocated to Colorado, where he would build both a business career and a political life that spanned more than two decades.

Education

Hickenlooper attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in geology. His academic background in the earth sciences led him to pursue a career in the petroleum industry, working as a geologist during the energy boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s. His scientific training would later inform his approach to policy, particularly on issues related to energy and the environment during his tenures as mayor, governor, and senator.

Career

Petroleum Geology and Entrepreneurship

After completing his education at Wesleyan University, Hickenlooper worked as a petroleum geologist in Colorado. When the oil industry experienced a significant downturn in the mid-1980s, he was laid off from his position. Rather than seeking another geology job, Hickenlooper pivoted to entrepreneurship. In 1988, he co-founded the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver's Lower Downtown (LoDo) neighborhood, which at the time was a largely neglected area of the city. The Wynkoop Brewing Company became one of the first brewpubs in the United States and is credited with helping to catalyze the revitalization of the LoDo district. The success of the brewpub established Hickenlooper as a prominent figure in the Denver business community and laid the groundwork for his entry into politics.

Mayor of Denver (2003–2011)

Hickenlooper entered electoral politics in 2003, running for mayor of Denver. His campaign drew on his reputation as a successful small business owner and community figure in the city. He won the mayoral election and was inaugurated as the 43rd mayor of Denver on July 21, 2003, succeeding Wellington Webb.

As mayor, Hickenlooper focused on urban development, economic growth, and civic engagement. His administration oversaw a period of significant development in Denver, including continued revitalization of the downtown area. In 2005, TIME magazine named him one of America's five best big-city mayors, bringing national attention to his tenure.

During his time as mayor, Denver hosted the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a major logistical and political undertaking for the city. The city government worked to facilitate the convention, including providing support to the Democratic National Committee host committee.

Hickenlooper served two terms as mayor before departing office on January 11, 2011, when he was succeeded by Bill Vidal as he transitioned to the governorship. His tenure as mayor established his political profile as a pragmatic, business-oriented Democrat.

Governor of Colorado (2011–2019)

2010 Election

After incumbent Governor Bill Ritter announced he would not seek reelection, Hickenlooper announced his intention to run for the Democratic nomination in January 2010. He won an uncontested Democratic primary and faced Constitution Party nominee Tom Tancredo and Republican Party nominee Dan Maes in the general election. The Republican field was notably fractured, with Tancredo's third-party candidacy splitting the conservative vote. Hickenlooper won the election with 51 percent of the vote and was inaugurated as the 42nd governor of Colorado on January 11, 2011.

First Term (2011–2015)

Hickenlooper's first term as governor was shaped by several significant events and policy initiatives. On July 20, 2012, a mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killed 12 people and injured 70 others. In the aftermath of the shooting, Hickenlooper worked with the Colorado General Assembly to pass gun control legislation. In March 2013, he signed into law bills requiring universal background checks for all gun sales in Colorado and banning the sale of ammunition magazines holding more than 15 rounds. The gun legislation proved controversial and led to the successful recall of two Democratic state senators who had voted for the measures, though Hickenlooper himself remained in office.

Another contentious issue during his first term involved the death penalty case of Nathan Dunlap, who had been sentenced to death for murdering four people at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Aurora in 1993. Facing calls both for and against clemency, Hickenlooper received numerous letters urging him to deny clemency. Hickenlooper ultimately granted Dunlap a temporary reprieve rather than commuting his sentence or allowing the execution to proceed, a decision that drew criticism from multiple sides.

Hickenlooper also oversaw the implementation of Amendment 64, the 2012 voter-approved ballot measure that legalized recreational marijuana in Colorado. Although he had initially opposed the legalization measure, he worked to establish a regulatory framework for the legal marijuana industry. Over time, he gradually came to express more supportive views of legalization, particularly as the state collected significant tax revenue from marijuana sales and did not experience many of the negative outcomes opponents had predicted.

A significant achievement of Hickenlooper's first term was the expansion of Medicaid under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Colorado was one of the states that opted to expand Medicaid eligibility, a decision that approximately halved the rate of uninsured people in the state.

During his governorship, Hickenlooper chose not to live in the Colorado Governor's Mansion, a decision shared by some of his gubernatorial peers across the country.

Chair of the National Governors Association

Hickenlooper served as chair of the National Governors Association from July 13, 2014, to July 25, 2015, succeeding Mary Fallin and succeeded by Gary Herbert. In this role, he worked with governors of both parties on issues of shared concern, further raising his national profile.

2014 Reelection and Second Term (2015–2019)

Hickenlooper won reelection in 2014, defeating Republican nominee Bob Beauprez. His second term continued many of the policy priorities established during his first term. He signed legislation aimed at rural economic development.

Throughout his governorship, Hickenlooper cultivated a reputation as a centrist Democrat who sought bipartisan solutions. He was frequently mentioned in national media as a potential presidential candidate. In August 2017, speculation arose about a possible bipartisan "unity ticket" with Republican Ohio Governor John Kasich for the 2020 presidential election, though such a candidacy never materialized.

Despite political controversies, including the gun legislation backlash and the Dunlap reprieve, Hickenlooper's tenure as governor was characterized by economic growth in Colorado. He was term-limited and left office on January 8, 2019, succeeded by Jared Polis.

2020 Presidential Campaign

In 2019, Hickenlooper entered the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Running on his record as governor and his background as a businessman, he positioned himself as a pragmatic moderate in a crowded field of candidates. However, his campaign struggled to gain traction in polling and fundraising amid a large and competitive primary field. Hickenlooper withdrew from the presidential race before any primaries were held, in August 2019.

U.S. Senate (2021–present)

2020 Election

Following his withdrawal from the presidential race, Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in Colorado, challenging incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner. Colorado had trended increasingly Democratic in the years leading up to the 2020 election, and Hickenlooper entered the race as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. He won the Democratic primary and went on to defeat Gardner in the November 2020 general election. At age 68, Hickenlooper became the oldest person to win a first term as a U.S. senator representing Colorado. He took office on January 3, 2021, serving alongside senior Senator Michael Bennet.

Senate Tenure

As a senator, Hickenlooper has been involved in a range of legislative and policy issues. Drawing on his background as a former small business owner, he has focused on economic issues affecting small businesses and working families in Colorado. In 2025 and 2026, he has been vocal on several policy fronts, including immigration, government spending, and trade policy.

On immigration, Hickenlooper has taken positions critical of the approach taken by the administration of President Donald Trump. He voted against a Department of Homeland Security funding bill, stating his opposition to what he characterized as problematic enforcement practices. He called for an overhaul of immigration enforcement agencies, criticizing instances of what he described as lawlessness within those organizations. In February 2026, Hickenlooper hosted Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 20-year-old Dreamer who had been detained by ICE, as his guest for the State of the Union address.

On fiscal matters, Hickenlooper voted against a Republican continuing resolution deal in November 2025, citing concerns about its impact on health care costs and services for Coloradans.

On trade policy, Hickenlooper has been critical of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Following a Supreme Court ruling on tariffs, he demanded immediate refunds for small businesses affected by what he termed "illegal tariffs," citing the harm done to Colorado businesses and working families.

On water policy, an issue of particular importance to the western United States, Hickenlooper has been engaged in negotiations regarding future Colorado River operations, releasing a statement on the ongoing negotiations in February 2026.

Personal Life

Hickenlooper married journalist and author Helen Thorpe in January 2002. The couple had one son together. They divorced in 2015. Hickenlooper subsequently married Robin Pringle in 2016.

Hickenlooper's cousin, George Hickenlooper, was a filmmaker known for directing the documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991). George Hickenlooper died on October 29, 2010, in Denver. The Denver medical examiner determined his death was caused by an accidental overdose of a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Hickenlooper's name, of Dutch origin, has been a notable aspect of his public identity throughout his political career. During his gubernatorial campaign, the unusual surname attracted media attention and became part of his folksy public image.

Recognition

In 2005, TIME magazine named Hickenlooper one of America's five best big-city mayors, recognizing his leadership in Denver's continued urban development and economic growth.

In a 2012 profile, Esquire magazine featured Hickenlooper as part of its "Americans of the Year" issue, highlighting his approach to governance and his unusual trajectory from brewpub owner to governor.

During his time as governor, Hickenlooper served as chair of the National Governors Association from 2014 to 2015, a leadership position reflecting the national stature he had achieved within the Democratic Party and among state executives of both parties.

His 2020 Senate victory was notable in that it made him, at age 68, the oldest first-term senator in Colorado's history. The victory also represented the defeat of an incumbent senator, Cory Gardner, in a state that had shifted significantly in its partisan alignment during the preceding decade.

Legacy

Hickenlooper's political career has spanned multiple levels of government—from city hall to the governor's mansion to the United States Senate. His tenure as mayor of Denver coincided with a period of significant growth and development in the city, including the hosting of the 2008 Democratic National Convention. As governor, his signature policy achievements included the passage of gun control legislation in the aftermath of the Aurora shooting, the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and the implementation of a regulatory framework for Colorado's legal marijuana industry.

His evolution on the issue of marijuana legalization—from opponent to qualified supporter—reflected broader shifts in public opinion both in Colorado and nationally. Colorado's experience as one of the first states to legalize recreational marijuana under Hickenlooper's governorship served as a model—and a cautionary tale, depending on perspective—for other states considering similar measures.

His path from small business owner to elected official has been a defining narrative of his political career, one he has continued to invoke during his Senate tenure when addressing economic and trade policy. As a senator in the 2020s, Hickenlooper has positioned himself on issues including immigration enforcement, government spending, trade tariffs, and water policy in the western United States.