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U.S. Senate
John Hickenlooper

Jewish Voter Guide

John Hickenlooper

U.S. Senate · CO · Democrat

On the 2026 ballotLast elected 2014

Summary

Senator John Hickenlooper is the Democratic nominee in Colorado's 2026 U.S. Senate election and will face Republican nominee Mark Baisley.

Senator John Hickenlooper is the incumbent Democratic nominee for reelection in Colorado. He has supported Israel's right to defend itself after Hamas's October 7 attack, called Hamas a terrorist organization, supported efforts to secure the hostages and remove Hamas from power, and backed a two-state outcome. On April 15, 2026, he voted to advance two resolutions that would have blocked proposed sales of military bulldozers and 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel.

In 2026, Hickenlooper repeatedly opposed President Trump's military campaign in Iran as unauthorized and lacking a clear strategy or end state. Those statements address war powers and escalation rather than setting out a detailed 2026 nuclear-nonproliferation framework. Hickenlooper has also supported legislation applying the IHRA working definition of antisemitism in federal campus civil-rights enforcement, pressed federal agencies to protect Jewish communities, and condemned antisemitic violence.

The record

Positions come from public votes, statements and on-the-record interviews. Every claim links to its source. No aggregate score or grade.

Support for a Strong U.S.-Israel Alliance

  • After October 7, Hickenlooper said Israel had the right to defend itself against Hamas while emphasizing that military operations should comply with international law and minimize civilian harm. He also supported diplomatic efforts for hostage releases and a two-state solution.

  • On April 15, 2026, Hickenlooper voted for motions to discharge S.J. Res. 32 and S.J. Res. 138, which would have advanced resolutions blocking proposed sales of Caterpillar D9 bulldozers and 1,000-pound bomb bodies to Israel. Both motions failed.

Sources

Preventing a Nuclear Iran

  • In February 2026, Hickenlooper criticized President Trump for initiating military action against Iran without congressional authorization, a clear strategy, or an endgame. He acknowledged the Iranian regime's support for terrorism and repression but opposed what he described as reckless unilateral action. Subsequent 2026 statements again called for ending the war. These statements establish opposition to the military campaign but do not by themselves define the terms of a nuclear agreement or other detailed nonproliferation policy.

Sources

Condemning and Combating Terrorism

  • Hickenlooper has described Hamas as a terrorist organization and said removing Hamas from power in Gaza is in Israel's vital national interest. He joined colleagues supporting negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Source

Response to Hamas's October 7 Attack

  • Hickenlooper described October 7 as a massacre carried out by Iranian-backed Hamas, supported Israel's right to defend itself, and called for the release of hostages while also urging protection of Palestinian civilians and a negotiated two-state future.

Source

Fighting Antisemitism

  • After the 2025 antisemitic attack in Boulder, Hickenlooper condemned the violence and spoke on the Senate floor against antisemitic hate.

Source

Protecting Jewish Students on Campus

  • Hickenlooper joined bipartisan legislation directing the Department of Education to consider the IHRA working definition of antisemitism when enforcing Title VI protections on college campuses.

Source

Protecting Jewish Institutions and Communities

  • Hickenlooper joined a bipartisan effort pressing the Department of Homeland Security and FBI to strengthen protection for Jewish Americans and Jewish institutions amid rising antisemitic threats and violence.

Source

Engagement with the Jewish Community

  • Hickenlooper has publicly expressed solidarity with Colorado's Jewish community after antisemitic attacks, including the Boulder attack.

Source

Sources

A note on methodology. This guide is published as an educational reference. The American Jewish Congress does not endorse candidates and does not publish aggregate scores. If you spot a position that needs an update or a better source, please reach the office.

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