Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper has launched his first general election television ad, a 30-second spot that links fertilizer and fuel costs—which he describes as soaring—to what he calls an illegal war with Iran. In the ad, the Democrat, seeking a second term, claims farmers have been paying 50% more for fertilizer and that diesel and gas prices are at their highest point in years, pinning much of the blame on a conflict that has now stretched on for 31 weeks.
The ad's release, reported by the Denver Gazette, says Hickenlooper claims the war has cost more than $150 billion and too many lives, and he calls for lower energy, healthcare and housing costs. He also says his Republican opponent, state Sen. Mark Baisley of Woodland Park, has argued the war was worth all the pain — a claim the ad uses to draw a sharp contrast between the two candidates heading into November.
The numbers behind Hickenlooper's pitch have real traction. U.S. average diesel prices hit $6.28 per gallon in September, a 78% jump since the Iran conflict began disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz in late February, according to KiowaCountyPress.net. The Guardian estimates the fuel-cost increase could reach $12,500 per 1,000 harvested acres.
Hickenlooper previously served as Denver's mayor from 2003 to 2011 and as Colorado's governor from 2011 to 2019 before unseating Republican Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020. Baisley, 71, spent years in technology, aerospace and defense work at companies including Raytheon and Martin Marietta before winning election to the state Senate in 2022, according to a candidate guide published by The Colorado Sun. Baisley has not yet released statewide advertising of his own, the Gazette's reporting notes.
A Third Candidate Spending Big on Independents
Forward Party nominee Bob Chew, a retired business owner, announced he is increasing spending on his self-funded campaign to more than $3 million and has run TV and digital ads since August. Chew is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired chemical engineer who built a technical services firm to 700 employees before selling it to staff, per 9News.
Chew's ads position him as an alternative to the major-party candidates.
Campaign finance filings show the money gap among the three candidates is stark heading into the final weeks. Hickenlooper's campaign had just over $2 million on hand at the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission filings cited in the Gazette's report, while Chew's campaign had just over $1 million in coffers and Baisley's had $50,000. Hickenlooper's campaign has planned a seven-figure TV and digital buy running through the November 3 election, airing statewide on broadcast, cable and streaming platforms with a substantial digital component.
Primary History and the Road to November
Hickenlooper secured the Democratic nomination in June with 52.8% of the vote against state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a 5.6 percentage point margin, after a competitive primary that prompted substantial campaign and super PAC spending, the Denver Gazette reported. A super PAC called Common Sense Action Fund spent nearly $300,000 on digital advertising and media production to boost Hickenlooper that June, using federal reporting rules that kept its donor list undisclosed until after the primary, according to Colorado Newsline. Baisley, meanwhile, advanced to the general election unopposed after securing more than 30% delegate support at the Republican State Assembly.
Colorado's November ballot also includes three minor-party Senate candidates: Christopher Baum of the Approval Voting Party, Blake Huber of the Libertarian Party, and Adam Withrow of the Unity Party, per the Colorado Sun's candidate overview. National election forecasters rate the Colorado Senate race solidly in the Democrats' corner, and the state has not elected a Republican U.S. senator since 2014. The Iran war itself carries just 32% approval among U.S. adults, with 60% disapproval, according to Silver Bulletin figures cited in the Gazette's reporting.
Colorado ballots began going out to voters last Friday and must be returned to county clerks by 7 p.m. on November 3.
