Taxpayers spent $150,000 to defend former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper’s against an ethics complaint that led to two violations of the state’s gift ban, records show. The final cost of the legal expenses matches the maximum allowed in a contract with Mark Grueskin. The prominent Democratic election attorney represented Hickenlooper on behalf of the state […]
U.S. Senate race
Posted inEnergy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
John Hickenlooper’s conflicting record and rhetoric on fracking a point of dispute in U.S. Senate race
A former geologist for an oil and gas company, John Hickenlooper emerged as one of the industry’s most vocal Democratic supporters in his two terms as Colorado governor. He drank fracking fluid from Halliburton to prove its safety. He opposed tougher regulations and threatened to sue local governments that banned fracking. And he lauded the […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
How The Colorado Sun will cover the 2020 election — and why we need your help
A new survey shows that government and politics is the No. 2 issue in Colorado. And The Colorado Sun is here to help you make sense of it all. We cover government and politics differently than others. Less “he-said, she-said” and more facts. No spin and no agenda. We are a nonpartisan, independent, member-supported, award-winning, […]
Posted inElection 2020, News, Politics and Government
Colorado polls: How Cory Gardner and John Hickenlooper are polling in the 2020 U.S. Senate election
The U.S. Senate race in Colorado is one of the most watched in the nation because it will help decide whether Democrats take over or Republicans retain power after the November election. To get a sense of where the 2020 U.S. Senate contest stands, The Colorado Sun is tracking the latest state-level polls showing the […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government, Technology
Big Tech asserts its influence in Colorado, but the U.S. Senate candidates aren’t willing to discuss it
When Boulder-based phone accessory company PopSockets decided it was tired of being “bullied” by Amazon, the company terminated its relationship in 2018. It cost them $10 million in lost revenue. David Barnett started the company that makes collapsible phone grips and stands in 2014 while still a college philosophy professor. Now, he thinks powerful tech […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Politics and Government
Cory Gardner faces pressure to deliver on stimulus bill as he touts his coronavirus response in campaign
AURORA — In the first week after the U.S. Senate departed for a weeks-long recess, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner made a series of stops in Aurora to discuss mental health care. The Yuma Republican highlighted his legislation to create the 988 national suicide hotline and a bill he co-sponsored with U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris — […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
The coronavirus campaign shows partisan split in Colorado, as top candidates mostly keep out of view
In a typical election year, the political campaign is a process — by definition, a series of activities that candidates undertake to win elected office. This year, amid the pandemic, the act of campaigning is a political statement. For candidates, the choice to hold events or wear a mask serves as shorthand to voters about […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Gardner and Hickenlooper initially agree to only one debate in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race
The candidates in Colorado’s much-watched U.S. Senate race are poised to debate only once — and not even on television — after the two campaigns failed to reach a broader agreement. U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, the Republican incumbent, said in June he would participate in five debates ahead of the November election. But Democrat John […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News, Politics and Government
Cory Gardner calls for Republican attack ad invoking deadly 2017 Firestone explosion to be taken down
Sen. Cory Gardner is calling for a Republican group to take down a television ad that invokes the deadly 2017 home explosion in Firestone to attack former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s record on oil and gas. The Republican U.S. senator says he spoke to Erin Martinez on Tuesday, who survived the blast that killed her […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
You’ll be seeing at least $19 million worth of John Hickenlooper and Cory Gardner on TV before Election Day
Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and former Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper are back on your TV screens just a week after Hickenlooper defeated former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff in the primary. And they are going to stay there for many months to come. Both candidates began airing general election ads on Tuesday, and a […]