U.S. Senate, Colorado · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Colorado U.S. Senate race?
Mark Baisley has the strongest record in the Colorado U.S. Senate race. Mark Baisley scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Hickenlooper at 67, as of October 6, 2026. Mark Baisley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. John Hickenlooper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Apelbaum (0 of 15 criteria), Christopher Baum (3 of 15 criteria), Bob Chew (7 of 15 criteria), Blake Huber (4 of 15 criteria), Will Powers (0 of 15 criteria), Donald Willoughby (0 of 15 criteria) and Adam Withrow (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Write-in
Ryan Apelbaum
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Strongest record
Mark Baisley
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 75
Approval Voting Party
Christopher Baum
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Forward Party
Bob Chew
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
John Hickenlooper
67 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 44
- Qualifications
- 85
- Performance
- 69
Libertarian
Blake Huber
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Will Powers
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Donald Willoughby
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Unity Party
Adam Withrow
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 42
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Ryan Apelbaum
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mark Baisley
- On the record2026-01-05
Ended his campaign for governor in January 2026 and entered the U.S. Senate race.
Source: The Colorado Sun, Jan. 5, 2026
- On the record2026-09-19
Debated alone at the Club 20 event in Grand Junction after Hickenlooper did not attend.
Source: KVNF (Colorado Capitol News Alliance), Sept. 23, 2026
- Credit2024
Five bills he sponsored became law in the 2023 to 2024 Colorado Senate session, a Meets Expectations rating from the Center for Effective Lawmaking.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislative data
Christopher Baum
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Bob Chew
- On the record2026
Put more than $1 million of his own money into his Senate campaign.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
- Credit2008
Sold the engineering company he co-founded, grown to 700 employees, to its workers through an employee stock ownership plan in 2008, per CPR citing his campaign site.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
John Hickenlooper
- Mark against2020-06-12
Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission found in June 2020 that he twice violated the state gift ban as governor in 2018 and fined him $2,750; his campaign said he accepted the findings.
Sources: The Colorado Sun, June 12, 2020, The Denver Post, June 12, 2020
- Mark against2020-06-04
The Independent Ethics Commission held him in contempt on June 4, 2020 for defying a subpoena to testify; he testified the next day and the commission imposed no penalty for the contempt.
Sources: The Colorado Sun, June 4, 2020, The Denver Post, June 12, 2020
- On the record2026-09-19
Did not attend the Club 20 candidate debate in Grand Junction on Sept. 19, 2026; two October debates with Republican Mark Baisley are scheduled.
Source: KVNF (Colorado Capitol News Alliance), Sept. 23, 2026
- On the record2022-05-16
Filed periodic transaction reports on May 16, 2022 for five 2021 household stock transactions, past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline; his office said the filings were missed by mistake.
Source: Sludge, May 25, 2022
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Nay on the Jan. 6, 2021 objection to Arizona's certified electors.
Source: GovTrack, Senate vote 1, 2021
- Credit2026
GovTrack counts nine bills he sponsored in the Senate as enacted, including the Investing in All of America Act of 2025.
Source: GovTrack
- Credit2023
Scored 0.41157 on the Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, 27th of 98 senators.
Blake Huber
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Will Powers
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Donald Willoughby
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Adam Withrow
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Senate campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no state ethics finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC from March 20 through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
John Hickenlooper. Acknowledged filing five 2021 periodic transaction reports late, past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline. In 2020 Colorado's Independent Ethics Commission fined him $2,750 for two gift-ban violations as governor. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: The American Prospect (Sludge), May 2022, The Colorado Sun, June 12, 2020, FEC administrative fines search
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. No public record found.
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. No public record found.
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Took part in the Sept. 19, 2026 Club 20 debate in Grand Junction and is scheduled to debate Hickenlooper twice in October.
Sources: KVNF (Colorado Capitol News Alliance), Sept. 23, 2026, CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Scheduled to debate Republican Mark Baisley twice in October 2026; skipped the Sept. 19 Club 20 debate in Grand Junction. Holds virtual town halls.
Sources: KVNF (Colorado Capitol News Alliance), Sept. 23, 2026, Alamosa Citizen, March 10, 2025
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Served eight years in the Colorado legislature, four in the House and four in the Senate, with no censure or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Baisley, CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Mayor of Denver, governor and U.S. senator over more than two decades. The 2020 ethics commission findings (gift ban, contempt) are scored under Integrity; no censure or conduct finding in office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Hickenlooper, GovTrack
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Took the oath as a state representative in 2019 and state senator in 2023. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Christopher Baum. Retired U.S. Navy commander per CPR News. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Bob Chew. Served as a U.S. Navy submarine officer from 1981 to 1986. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Bob Chew
John Hickenlooper. Voted Nay on the Jan. 6, 2021 objection to Arizona's electors. Sworn as mayor, governor and senator; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate vote 1, 2021, GovTrack
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Colorado state senator since 2023 and state representative from 2019 to 2023, two or more terms in a state legislature. Earlier an aerospace and cybersecurity engineer.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Christopher Baum. Retired Navy commander, former small-business owner and computer network administrator. Has not held public office.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Bob Chew. Co-founder and CEO of engineering firm CAI from 1996 to 2021, after five years as a Navy submarine officer. Has not held public office.
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
John Hickenlooper. U.S. senator since January 2021, completing a full term; governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019 and mayor of Denver from 2003 to 2011.
Source: Ballotpedia, John Hickenlooper
Blake Huber. More than 30 years in management of apartment communities, a small business, a motel and network engineering teams, and a former Libertarian state party chair, per CPR News. Has not held public office.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. Has worked as a ranch hand, nursing assistant, cook, contractor and detention officer; no leadership role documented. Has not held public office.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Gives specific proposals: tax breaks for lenders who peg mortgages to the 10-year Treasury yield, removing property values from property tax calculations, and requiring universities to cover half of student loans.
Sources: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026, The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. Publishes priorities on the debt, affordability and partisanship in general terms, with some specifics such as keeping the filibuster and letting states set visa numbers.
Sources: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026, The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
John Hickenlooper. Ranking member of the HELP Committee's Employment and Workplace Safety subcommittee, and gives specific positions on tax, health care pricing and tariffs.
Sources: GovTrack, The Colorado Sun, Oct. 5, 2026
Blake Huber. Published priorities in general terms: approval voting, immigration reform and regulatory relief for small businesses.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. Published priorities in general terms, led by raising wages and tying them to the Consumer Price Index.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire, gave issue interviews to CPR and the Colorado Sun, and debated at Club 20. Did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, The Colorado Sun, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Mark Baisley
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Denver Post questionnaire and gave an issue interview to CPR News.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bob Chew, The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
John Hickenlooper. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire, gave issue interviews to the Colorado Sun and holds virtual town halls. Did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, The Colorado Sun, Oct. 5, 2026, Alamosa Citizen, March 10, 2025, Ballotpedia, John Hickenlooper
Blake Huber. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey (completed it in 2018).
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Blake Huber
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and publishes positions on his website.
Source: Ballotpedia, Adam Withrow
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Moved to Colorado in 1989 and lives in Woodland Park. About 87 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Colorado (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Christopher Baum. Based in Denver per CPR News.
Source: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026
Bob Chew. Moved to Boulder about a decade ago. The campaign is mostly self-funded; $10,250 of $18,500 in itemized individual contributions by state came from Colorado (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
John Hickenlooper. Lives in Denver, where he served as mayor from 2003. About 32 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Colorado (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: The Denver Post candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, John Hickenlooper, FEC contribution totals by state
Blake Huber. Lives in Denver per his Denver Post questionnaire.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. President of engineering software firm Slipglass, Inc. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Mark Baisley, FEC administrative fines search
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. Built the engineering and technical services company he co-founded from four employees to 700 before selling it to employees in 2008, per CPR citing his campaign site. FEC reports on file, no fine.
Sources: CPR News, Sept. 25, 2026, FEC administrative fines search
John Hickenlooper. Ran the state executive branch as governor for eight years and Denver city government as mayor. Senate campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Hickenlooper, FEC administrative fines search
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. Five bills he sponsored became law in the 2023 to 2024 Colorado Senate and three in the 2021 to 2022 House; the Center for Effective Lawmaking rates him Meets Expectations in each scored term.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislative data
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates him Meets Expectations for the 118th Congress (LES 2.0 of 1.232 against a benchmark of 0.912). GovTrack counts 9 bills he sponsored as enacted.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking, Senate data 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. No public record found.
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Missed 50 of 2,544 roll call votes, 2.0 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. No public record found.
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Holds virtual town halls where constituents submit questions. His Senate site, which lists offices and casework, blocked automated access, so office and casework figures were not confirmed.
Source: Alamosa Citizen, March 10, 2025
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. As a Republican in a Democratic-controlled legislature, nine bills he sponsored became law from 2019 to 2024, per Center for Effective Lawmaking data.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, state legislative data
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of 0.41157 for 2023, the latest posted Senate scores, ranked 27 of 98 senators scored.
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ryan Apelbaum. No public record found.
Mark Baisley. No public record found.
Christopher Baum. No public record found.
Bob Chew. No public record found.
John Hickenlooper. No public record found.
Blake Huber. No public record found.
Will Powers. No public record found.
Donald Willoughby. No public record found.
Adam Withrow. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Colorado U.S. Senate race?
Mark Baisley has the strongest record in the Colorado U.S. Senate race. Mark Baisley scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of John Hickenlooper at 67, as of October 6, 2026. Mark Baisley's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. John Hickenlooper's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Ryan Apelbaum (0 of 15 criteria), Christopher Baum (3 of 15 criteria), Bob Chew (7 of 15 criteria), Blake Huber (4 of 15 criteria), Will Powers (0 of 15 criteria), Donald Willoughby (0 of 15 criteria) and Adam Withrow (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Colorado U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Ryan Apelbaum (Write-in), Mark Baisley (Republican), Christopher Baum (Approval Voting Party), Bob Chew (Forward Party), John Hickenlooper (Democratic, incumbent), Blake Huber (Libertarian), Will Powers (Write-in), Donald Willoughby (Write-in), Adam Withrow (Unity Party). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ryan Apelbaum a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Ryan Apelbaum has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Mark Baisley a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Mark Baisley scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Christopher Baum a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Christopher Baum has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bob Chew a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Bob Chew has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is John Hickenlooper a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
John Hickenlooper scores 67 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 44 of 100, qualifications 85 of 100, performance 69 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Blake Huber a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Blake Huber has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Will Powers a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Will Powers has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Donald Willoughby a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Donald Willoughby has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Adam Withrow a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Adam Withrow has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Colorado race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Colorado 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.