John Hickenlooper
John Wright Hickenlooper (born February 7, 1952) is an American politician. He is the junior United States Senator from Colorado since 2021. He was the 42nd Governor of Colorado from January 11, 2011 to January 8, 2019. Hickenlooper is a Democrat. He was the mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2011.
John Hickenlooper | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator from Colorado | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2021 Serving with Michael Bennet | |
| Preceded by | Cory Gardner |
| 42nd Governor of Colorado | |
| In office January 11, 2011 – January 8, 2019 | |
| Lieutenant | Joe García Donna Lynne |
| Preceded by | Bill Ritter |
| Succeeded by | Jared Polis |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 13, 2014 – July 25, 2015 | |
| Deputy | Gary Herbert |
| Preceded by | Mary Fallin |
| Succeeded by | Gary Herbert |
| 43rd Mayor of Denver | |
| In office July 21, 2003 – January 11, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Wellington Webb |
| Succeeded by | Bill Vidal |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. February 7, 1952 Narberth, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Robin Pringle (m. 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Andrew Hickenlooper (great-grandfather) Bourke B. Hickenlooper (great-uncle) George Hickenlooper (cousin) |
| Education | Wesleyan University (BA, MS) |
| Website | www |
Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for President of the United States on March 4, 2019.[1] He ended his campaign on August 15, 2019.[2] A few days later, he announced his candidacy for the United States Senate challenging incumbent Senator Cory Gardner.[3] In June 2020, he won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race. In November 2020, he won the election. At 68, Hickenlooper became the oldest first-term senator to represent Colorado.[4]
Early life, education and career
changeHickenlooper was born in Narberth, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his mother after his father died young.[5] He is a graduate of Wesleyan University. At Wesleyan, he earned a B.A. in English in 1974 and a master’s degree in geology in 1980.
Before becoming mayor in July 2003, he was a geologist and then a businessperson. Hickenlooper owned several restaurants in the late 1980s. He was one of the founders of the original Wynkoop Brewing Company brewpub. This was the first brewpub in Colorado.[6]
Political positions
changeCampaign for the homeless
changeHickenlooper has wanted more homeless services since becoming mayor in 2003. He talked about his "10 year plan to end homelessness" at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.[source?].
Marijuana legalization
changeIn 2006, Denver became the first major American city to make legal the private use of marijuana by people over age 21. Hickenlooper was against the marijuana legalization initiative. When the voters approved it 53.49%-46.51%, he said that the vote "reflect[s] a genuine shift in people's attitudes." Currently the Denver Police say the initiative does not overrule the state law, the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS). Hickenlooper agrees with the Denver Police. The CRS currently treats marijuana possession much like driving faster than the speed limit. The penalty is fines of up to $100 and no jail time.[7]
2020 presidential campaign
change_(cropped).jpg)
Hickenlooper formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States on March 4, 2019. He released a campaign video titled “Standing Tall”.[8] Before announcing his campaign, Hickenlooper was widely seen as a possible candidate for President in 2020. Hickenlooper formally launched his campaign on March 7, 2019 in Denver.[9] After failing to obtain over 1% in polls, Hickenlooper dropped out of the race on August 15, 2019.[2]
2020 Senate run
changeIn August 2019, it was revealed that Hickenlooper ended his presidential bid to run for the United States Senate in 2020 against incumbent Senator Cory Gardner.[2] In a poll for potential Democratic candidates for the Colorado Senate, Hickenlooper was the front-runner with 61%.[10] On August 22, 2019, Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for the Senate.[11] In June 2020, he won the Democratic nomination. On November 3, 2020, Hickenlooper was declared the winner of the Senate race.
Personal life
changeHickenlooper's ex-wife, Helen Thorpe, is a writer. Her work has been published in The New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, George, and Texas Monthly. They lived in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood with their son, Teddy.[12] Hickenlooper told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he and Thorpe attend Quaker meetings and try to live by Quaker values.[13]
References
change- ↑ Turkewitz, Julie (2019-03-04). "John Hickenlooper, Former Colorado Governor, Declares Candidacy for President". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "John Hickenlooper ends 2020 presidential campaign, nods at potential Senate bid". CNN. August 15, 2019.
- ↑ Hickenlooper, John. "Not Done Fighting". YouTube. John Hickenlooper. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- ↑ Luning, Ernest (December 29, 2020). "TRAIL MIX | Superlatives pile up in record-shattering 2020 election". Colorado Politics. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
At 68, Hickenlooper is the oldest Coloradan to first win election to the U.S. Senate.
- ↑ Bedingfield, Steve (13 October 2010). "How Old is John Hickenlooper?". Politics Daily. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ↑ "Get to Know John". Hickenlooper.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ↑ O'Driscoll, Patrick (2005-11-03). "Denver OKs pot". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ↑ Balluck, Kyle (2019-03-04). "Hickenlooper launches 2020 presidential campaign". TheHill. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ↑ "Hickenlooper expected to announce Presidential run next week". FOX31 Denver. 2019-03-01. Archived from the original on 2019-03-02. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ↑ "Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper drops out of 2020 presidential race as he considers Senate run". CNBC. August 15, 2019.
- ↑ Garcia, Justin (August 21, 2019). "John Hickenlooper is running for U.S. Senate: "I'm not done fighting for the people of Colorado"". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ↑ Gathright, Alan (4 August 2006). "Hickenloopers out to forsake their LoDo loft". Rocky Mountain News. Denver Publishing Company. pp. 6A. Retrieved 24 April 2010.
- ↑ Timpane, John (October 27, 2010). "On campaign trail with John Hickenlooper, Pennsylvania native running for Colorado governor". Inquirer. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
Other websites
change- Hickenlooper for Governor Archived 2010-04-15 at the Wayback Machine official campaign site
- Profile at CityMayors.com
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Wellington Webb |
Mayor of Denver 2003–2011 |
Succeeded by Bill Vidal |
| Preceded by Bill Ritter |
Governor of Colorado 2011–2019 |
Succeeded by Jared Polis |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Bill Ritter |
Democratic nominee for Governor of Colorado 2010, 2014 |
Succeeded by Jared Polis |