Washington, D.C. — After months of making the case to voters that he was “not cut out to be a senator,” failed presidential candidate John Hickenlooper today announced he is reversing course and joining the crowded field of candidates in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race.
“John Hickenlooper is desperate to redeem himself after flopping on the national stage, but we think he said it best just a few months ago: he is ‘not cut out’ for the Senate,'” said NRSC spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez. “This crowded Senate field has been in a race to the left and Hickenlooper’s quixotic presidential bid did not do him any favors in proving he can compete in any race in 2020.”
Hickenlooper’s presidential campaign has been riddled with flubs and gaffes including:
- Abandoning an interview and handing the phone to his communications staffer because the topics were different than what was agreed to beforehand,
- Raising less money than most Senate candidates across the country — including one of his now challengers, and
- Sharing what many would call “TMI” about his experience watching porn with his mom.
Today’s announcement comes after Hickenlooper used multiple opportunities on the presidential campaign trail to disparage the Senate and explain how he was “not cut out to be a senator.”
- February 23, 2019 – “I’m not cut out to be a senator,” adding, “Senators don’t build teams. Senators sit and debate in small groups, which is important, right? But I’m not sure that’s my — I’m a doer. That’s what gives me joy.” (Politico, 2/23/19)
- May 19, 2019 – Hickenlooper says he would be a “difficult candidate” for Senate, throws more cold water on the idea (Twitter, 5/19/19)
- June 13, 2019 – CNN’s Dan Merica tweets: Hickenlooper burns the Senate. Asked at the @PressClubDC about people in CO asking him to run for Senate, the gov responds, “If the senate is so good, how come all of those senators are trying to get out.” “The Senate doesn’t attract me,” he said. “It just doesn’t attract me.”(Twitter, 6/13/19)