June 30, 2026
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Tonight, the only peer-reviewed scientist in the Senate, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper officially won the Democratic nomination for his re-election, prevailing in a competitive primary. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:
“314 Action Fund congratulates Senator John Hickenlooper on securing the Democratic nomination for Colorado’s U.S. Senate seat. A geologist and microbrew pub owner, Hickenlooper’s victory is a win for pro-science leadership at a moment when our democracy depends on electing leaders who will put facts above all else.
“Senator Hickenlooper has spent decades fighting for Colorado—as mayor of Denver, as a two-term governor, and every day as a U.S. Senator standing up to the Trump agenda and putting the people of Colorado first. He’s a geologist who has led on climate, on clean energy, and on protecting Colorado’s public lands. Coloradans chose him because they know he’ll tell them the truth and fight to protect their health, their environment, and their rights. 314 Action was proud to endorse Hickenlooper’s re-election campaign and will continue to support him across the finish line in November and beyond.”
John Hickenlooper served as Mayor of Denver from 2003 to 2011 and as Governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019, where he created the world’s first methane regulations—later adopted as a national model by the Obama administration. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020, unseating Republican incumbent Cory Gardner. In the Senate, Hickenlooper has been a consistent champion on climate, clean energy, public lands, and reproductive rights. A trained geologist, he is one of the few members of Congress with a formal background in science.
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314 Action is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.