“Hickenlooper might not always win the most style points, but he’s proven himself to be long on substance. We believe that’s the type of representative Coloradans need”
The Boulder Daily Camera editorial board became the twelfth newspaper to endorse John Hickenlooper’s campaign for United States Senate, writing that he’s “committed to the issues that matter most to Coloradans” and is the “type of representative Coloradans need.” The board also highlighted how Hickenlooper’s pragmatic approach and ability to solve problems will make him an effective member of the Senate.
The endorsement slammed Senator Cory Gardner for aligning too closely with President Donald Trump: “Gardner, a first-term Republican incumbent, has closely aligned himself with Trump… But that has frequently left Gardner out of step with the beliefs and values of many Coloradans, who are, after all, the people he was elected to represent.”
Hickenlooper has received support from a dozen editorial boards in every corner of the state: The Denver Post, The Colorado Sentinel, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, The Durango Herald, The Greeley Tribune, The Pueblo Chieftain, El Semanario, The Vail Daily, The Crested Butte News, Colorado Springs Indy, and Boulder Weekly. Four of these papers had previously backed Gardner.
Read the Daily Camera’s endorsement here or see excerpts below:
Editorial: Vote Hickenlooper for Senate
The U.S. Senate race between John Hickenlooper and Cory Gardner isn’t a referendum on President Donald Trump’s job performance. At least, not entirely.
However, since Colorado’s senators must work closely with whomever happens to occupy the Oval Office, it is relevant and necessary to view this race through the prism of what has transpired since Trump took office almost four years ago.
Gardner, a first-term Republican incumbent, has closely aligned himself with Trump during that time. In doing so, he may have enjoyed some short-term political gain by currying favor from the nation’s chief executive, who has demonstrated a passion for rewarding allies and punishing those who have dared to oppose him.
But that has frequently left Gardner out of step with the beliefs and values of many Coloradans, who are, after all, the people he was elected to represent.
Gardner seems to recognize that he’s put himself in a politically vulnerable position by cozying up to the polarizing president. Some of his recent television advertisements attempt to cast Gardner as a bipartisan dealmaker.
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But we have to look at Gardner’s overall record in evaluating his suitability for another term. And sticking with the example of environmental issues, Gardner has supported numerous Trump appointees and policy decisions that seem at odds with what is best for our planet’s future.
It’s also troubling that Gardner has developed a reputation as someone unwilling to meet with his constituents, at least in situations in which he might have to endure some tough questioning. Our editorial board got a taste of this when he declined our invitation to sit with us for an endorsement interview, which doesn’t speak well of his willingness to defend his record.
Hickenlooper, the Democratic former governor and Denver mayor, would be a worthy candidate even if Gardner weren’t carrying around so much Trump-related baggage. He generally did an effective job leading the state and, before that, the state’s capital city.
He competently managed recovery efforts from floods and wildfires. His administration developed oil and gas regulations that became a model other states followed. And, of particular interest to Boulderites, he helped convince Xcel Energy to close down one of its coal-fired power plants in Pueblo.
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Hickenlooper seems committed to the issues that matter most to Coloradans, like mitigating against climate change, protecting our state’s environment, providing affordable health care, and helping small businesses recover from the economic downturn in which we find ourselves.
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Hickenlooper might not always win the most style points, but he’s proven himself to be long on substance. We believe that’s the type of representative Coloradans need, and we encourage them to vote for Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate.
