2022 United States Senate election in Colorado

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The 2022 United States Senate election in Colorado was held on November 8, 2022. Incumbent Democratic Senator Michael Bennet was re-elected to a third term, defeating the Republican candidate, businessman Joe O'Dea. Originally appointed to the seat in 2009,[1] Bennet won full terms in 2010 and 2016.[2][3]

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2022 United States Senate election in Colorado
← 2016
November 8, 2022
2028 →
 
Nominee Michael Bennet Joe O'Dea
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 1,397,170 1,031,693
Percentage 55.88% 41.26%
Bennet:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
O'Dea:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Tie:      40–50%      50%      No votes
U.S. senator before election

Michael Bennet
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Senator

Michael Bennet
Democratic

Close

Bennet won by nearly 15 points, significantly outperforming his polling. His margin was the highest for a Democrat in a Senate election in Colorado since 1974. This was the first time in Bennet's Senate career that he received a majority of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Bennet was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2009 by Governor Bill Ritter following the resignation of the incumbent Senator, Ken Salazar, who become the Secretary of the Interior under President Barack Obama. Bennet was then narrowly elected in 2010 for his first full term, defeating Representative Ken Buck with 48.08% of the vote. In the 2016 election, he was re-elected to a second term with 49.97% of the vote, defeating Republican El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn.

Due to some of his centrist positions, such as his opposition to Medicare for All and his support for fracking, Bennet faced a potential challenge from the left, particularly from Joe Salazar, a former state representative. Salazar ultimately opted to run for the Colorado State Senate, and thus Bennet was easily renominated at the Democratic convention.[4]

Nominee

Eliminated at convention

  • Karen Breslin, lawyer and university instructor[6]

Declined

Endorsements

Michael Bennet

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. governors

  • Jared Polis, 43rd Governor of Colorado (2019–present) and former U.S. Representative from Colorado's 2nd congressional district (2009–2019)[11]
  • Bill Ritter, 41st Governor of Colorado (2007–2011)[11]
  • Roy Romer, 39th Governor of Colorado (1987–1999)[11]

U.S. representatives

State legislators

Organizations

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 516,985 100.0%
Total votes 516,985 100.0%
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Initially, a wide field of candidates declared their intention to seek the Republican nomination. However, instead of gathering the required number of signatures to be placed on the primary ballot, Bremer and most of the other candidates sought to earn the nomination by winning the required 30% of the delegate vote at the Colorado GOP convention in April 2022. As a result of the crowded field of candidates, delegate support was divided, with only State Representative Ron Hanks crossing the 30% threshold. Debora Flora, a radio show host, missed the ballot by a single percentage point, receiving 29% of the vote.[22]

With the other candidates eliminated, State Representative Ron Hanks and construction CEO Joe O'Dea were the only two candidates on the primary ballot. The contrast between the two Republicans was stark. Hanks supported a complete ban on abortion and echoed former president Donald Trump's assertions of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, while the more moderate O'Dea expressed support for LGBTQ rights, some abortion rights, and rejected Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud.[23]

Though O'Dea was initially considered the frontrunner as a result of his fundraising advantage, Hanks was buoyed by an attempt by Democrats to influence the primary. Democratic Colorado, an entity formed in June 2022, received roughly $4 million from the Senate Majority Fund, a PAC associated with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. They ran ads characterizing Hanks as "too conservative", in order to elevate Hanks over O'Dea, who was perceived as a stronger general election candidate.[24] This attempt to interfere in the GOP primary was denounced by numerous former Colorado Democratic officials, including former governor Roy Romer, and former senators Mark Udall, Tim Wirth, and Gary Hart, who previously mounted unsuccessful attempts to win the Democratic nomination for president in 1984 and 1988.[25]

Despite the support from Democrats and his lobbying for the endorsement of Donald Trump, Hanks was defeated by O'Dea by a 9% margin. He performed best in rural parts of the state, while O'Dea was successful in urban areas, such as Denver.[26]

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Eliminated at convention

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Erik Aadland (withdrawn)

U.S. representatives

Eli Bremer (eliminated)

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell, former U.S. Senator from Colorado (1993–2005)[46] (switched endorsement to O’Dea after Bremer was eliminated)

U.S. representatives

State legislators

County officials

Gino Campana (eliminated)

Executive branch officials

U.S. representatives

Deborah Flora (eliminated)

U.S. senators

State officials

U.S. representatives

Joe O'Dea

U.S. Executive Branch officials

U.S. senators

Federal officials

Statewide officials

State legislators

Local officials

  • 4 county commissioners[66]

Individuals

Newspapers

Polling

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Ron
Hanks		 Joe
O'Dea		 Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[70][A] May 15–20, 2022 400 (LV) ± 6.0% 14% 38% 47%
Close

Results

Results by county:
  O'Dea
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  Hanks
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe O'Dea 345,060 54.44%
Republican Ron Hanks 288,483 45.51%
Republican Daniel Hendricks (write-in) 302 0.05%
Total votes 633,845 100.0%
Close

General election

In recent years, Colorado has started voting more Democratic in the federal level, transitioning from a purple state to a moderately (and increasingly strongly) blue state, and the shift was largely contributed to the left-wing shift in the growing Denver metropolitan area, with President Joe Biden winning the state by 13.5% in the 2020 election, almost nine points to the left of the national result of around 4.9%. Prevailing in 2010, a year where Colorado was considered a swing state and Democrats performed very poorly, Bennet had a generally strong electoral history. He also outperformed Hillary Clinton on the same ballot in 2016. Ahead of 2022, Bennet was generally favored to win, though polling showed him as potentially vulnerable, largely due to the state of the economy and President Biden's low approval ratings.[71] Colorado had not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since Cory Gardner in 2014, another very strong year for Republicans nationwide and while Colorado was still considered a swing state, even then Gardner only won narrowly. Bennet ultimately won reelection by a comfortable 14.6 point margin, outperforming Biden's victory two years prior and his own polling averages. Bennet also flipped three counties he had lost in his 2016 re-election bid, flipping Grand County by a narrow 1.1% and Chaffee County, and Garfield County by wide margins. However, O'Dea did narrowly flip Conejos County by a slim 1%.[72]

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[73] Lean D August 18, 2022
Inside Elections[74] Likely D June 29, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball[75] Likely D March 1, 2022
Politico[76] Lean D August 12, 2022
RCP[77] Tossup November 4, 2022
Fox News[78] Lean D May 12, 2022
DDHQ[79] Likely D July 20, 2022
538[80] Likely D August 18, 2022
The Economist[81] Likely D September 7, 2022
Close

Endorsements

Michael Bennet (D)

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. governors

U.S. representatives

State legislators

  • Polly Baca, former state senator from the 25th district (1979–1987) and former state representative from the 34th district (1974–1979)[11]

Labor unions

Organizations

Newspapers

Joe O'Dea (R)

U.S. presidents

Executive branch officials

U.S. senators

U.S. representatives

Statewide officials

State legislators

Local officials

  • 4 county commissioners[66]
  • 20 current and former mayors[99]

Individuals

Newspapers

Brian Peotter (L)

State legislators

Declined to endorse

U.S. presidents

Polling

Aggregate polls

More information Source of poll aggregation, Dates administered ...
Source of poll
aggregation		 Dates
administered		 Dates
updated		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Joe
O'Dea (R)		 Undecided
[b]		 Margin
Real Clear Politics[105] October 26 – November 5, 2022 November 7, 2022 50.0% 44.3% 5.7% Bennet +5.7
FiveThirtyEight[106] July 26 – November 7, 2022 November 7, 2022 51.3% 42.9% 5.8% Bennet +8.4
270towin[107] November 1–7, 2022 November 7, 2022 51.0% 43.4% 6.6% Bennet +6.6
Average 50.8% 43.5% 5.7% Bennet +7.3
Close

Graphical summary

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Joe
O'Dea (R)		 Brian
Peotter (L)		 Other Undecided
co/efficient (R)[108] November 3–7, 2022 856 (LV) ± 3.3% 51% 43% – 3%[c] 3%
Data for Progress (D)[109] November 2–5, 2022 1,983 (LV) ± 2.0% 51% 44% 2% 2%[d] –
The Trafalgar Group (R)[110] October 30 – November 1, 2022 1,084 (LV) ± 2.9% 48% 46% 2% 1% 3%
Emerson College[111] October 26–29, 2022 1,000 (LV) ± 3.0% 49% 42% 2% 3%[e] 5%
51% 43% 2% 3%[f] –
co/efficient (R)[112] October 24–25, 2022 826 (LV) ± 3.4% 50% 34% – 6%[g] 10%
CU Boulder/YouGov[113] October 11–19, 2022 709 (LV) ± 4.4% 56% 42% – 2%[h] –
Civiqs[114] October 15–18, 2022 600 (LV) ± 5.0% 54% 41% – 2%[i] 3%
Global Strategy Group (D)[115][B] October 6–11, 2022 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 49% 38% 7% – 7%
52% 42% – – 6%
Marist College[116] October 3–6, 2022 1,127 (RV) ± 4.7% 48% 41% – 2%[j] 9%
983 (LV) ± 5.0% 49% 43% – 2%[k] 7%
Data for Progress (D)[117] October 3–6, 2022 1,005 (LV) ± 3.0% 50% 41% 3% 1%[l] 5%
OnMessage Inc. (R)[118][C] September 20–27, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 46% 45% – 4%[m] 5%
Keating Research/Magellan Strategies[119] September 18–26, 2022 1,060 (LV) ± 3.0% 46% 36% – – 18%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[120] September 20–24, 2022 1,078 (LV) ± 2.9% 49% 43% 4% <1%[n] 5%
Emerson College[121] September 18–19, 2022 1,000 (LV) ± 3.0% 46% 36% – 4%[o] 14%
Public Policy Polling (D)[122] August 30–31, 2022 782 (V) ± 3.5% 46% 35% 7% – 12%
The Tarrance Group (R)[123][D] August 22–25, 2022 600 (LV) ± 4.1% 48% 47% – – 5%
The Trafalgar Group (R)[124] August 15–19, 2022 1,087 (LV) ± 2.9% 47% 42% 5% 1% 5%
McLaughlin & Associates (R)[125] July 24–26, 2022 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 48% 40% – – 12%
Global Strategy Group (D)[126][B] June 2–8, 2022 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 49% 36% – – 14%
Close
Hypothetical polling

Michael Bennet vs. Ron Hanks

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Ron
Hanks (R)		 Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[126][B] June 2–8, 2022 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 50% 37% 13%
Global Strategy Group (D)[127][B] October 19–24, 2021 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 52% 34% 13%
Close

Michael Bennet vs. Eli Bremer

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Eli
Bremer (R)		 Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[127][B] October 19–24, 2021 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 48% 35% 17%
co/efficient (R)[128][E] September 9–12, 2021 742 (LV) ± 3.6% 40% 32% 22%
Close

Michael Bennet vs. Gino Campana

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Gino
Campana (R)		 Undecided
Blueprint Polling (D)[129] April 6–8, 2022 612 (V) ± 4.0% 46% 40% 14%
Close

Michael Bennet vs. Lauren Boebert

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Lauren
Boebert (R)		 Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[130][B] June 17–23, 2021 800 (RV) ± 3.5% 51% 38% 11%
Close

Michael Bennet vs. generic Republican

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Generic
Republican		 Undecided
Global Strategy Group (D)[131][B] June 2–8, 2022 800 (RV) ± 3.4% 49% 37% 14%
Cygnal (R)[132][F] January 12–13, 2022 630 (LV) ± 3.9% 45% 46% 9%
Global Strategy Group (D)[130][B] June 17–23, 2021 800 (RV) ± 3.5% 48% 40% 12%
Close

Michael Bennet vs. generic opponent

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Michael
Bennet (D)		 Generic
Opponent		 Undecided
McLaughlin & Associates (R)[125] July 24–26, 2022 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 44% 42% 14%
Close

Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican

More information Poll source, Date(s) administered ...
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[a]		 Margin
of error		 Generic
Democrat		 Generic
Republican		 Undecided
co/efficient (R)[128][E] September 9–12, 2021 742 (LV) ± 3.6% 44% 42% 14%
Close

Debates

More information No., Date ...
2022 United States Senate general election in Colorado debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Democratic Republican
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee  W  Withdrawn
Michael Bennet Joe O'Dea
1 Oct. 28, 2022 Colorado State University [133] P P
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
2022 United States Senate election in Colorado[134]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Michael Bennet (incumbent) 1,397,170 55.88% +5.91%
Republican Joe O'Dea 1,031,693 41.26% −3.05%
Libertarian Brian Peotter 43,534 1.74% −1.88%
Unity T.J. Cole 16,379 0.66% +0.32%
Approval Voting Frank Atwood 11,354 0.45% N/A
Write-in 71 0.00% N/A
Total votes 2,500,201 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold
Close

By county

More information County, Michael Bennet Democratic ...
County Michael Bennet
Democratic		 Joe O'Dea
Republican		 Various candidates
Other parties		 Margin Total votes cast
# % # % # % # %
Adams 90,483 56.8% 63,586 39.9% 5,218 3.3% 26,897 16.9% 159,287
Alamosa 2,999 50.6% 2,734 46.1% 196 3.5% 265 4.5% 5,929
Arapahoe 154,678 60.1% 96,033 37.3% 6,606 2.6% 58,645 22.8% 257,317
Archuleta 3,428 43.8% 4,099 52.4% 293 3.7% -671 -8.6% 7,820
Baca 371 21.3% 1,303 74.7% 71 4.1% -464 -53.4% 1,810
Bent 640 35.4% 1,104 61.0% 66 3.7% -464 -25.6% 1,810
Boulder 128,227 77.5% 33,858 20.5% 3,343 2.1% 94,369 57.0% 165,428
Broomfield 23,617 62.9% 12,975 34.6% 950 2.6% 10,642 28.3% 37,542
Chaffee 6,607 56.0% 4,854 41.1% 339 2.8% 1,753 14.9% 11,800
Cheyenne 120 13.1% 763 83.2% 34 3.8% -643 -70.1% 917
Clear Creek 2,966 57.2% 2,040 39.4% 175 3.4% 926 17.8% 5,181
Conejos 1,669 48.4% 1,704 49.4% 74 2.1% -35 -1.0% 3,447
Costilla 1,108 65.7% 518 30.7% 60 3.5% 590 35.0% 1,686
Crowley 432 31.4% 849 61.7% 94 6.8% -417 -30.3% 1,375
Custer 1,061 31.9% 2,112 63.5% 155 4.7% -1,051 -31.6% 3,328
Delta 5,400 33.9% 9,901 62.2% 613 3.8% -4,501 -28.3% 15,914
Denver 228,419 80.1% 51,582 18.1% 5,127 1.8% 176,837 62.0% 285,128
Dolores 353 27.5% 873 67.9% 59 4.5% -520 -40.4% 1,285
Douglas 85,173 44.6% 100,978 52.9% 4,757 2.6% -15,805 -8.3% 190,908
Eagle 13,960 62.9% 7,776 35.0% 457 2.1% 6,184 27.9% 22,193
El Paso 124,024 43.6% 149,995 52.8% 10,295 3.6% -25,971 -9.2% 284,314
Elbert 3,824 23.5% 11,897 73.2% 533 3.3% -8,073 -49.7% 16,254
Fremont 6,802 34.0% 12,285 61.5% 901 4.5% -5,483 -27.5% 19,988
Garfield 12,777 52.1% 10,924 44.6% 814 3.3% 1,853 7.5% 24,515
Gilpin 1,914 56.1% 1,385 40.6% 115 3.4% 529 15.5% 3,414
Grand 3,912 49.0% 3,824 47.9% 249 3.1% 88 1.1% 7,985
Gunnison 5,993 65.4% 2,905 31.7% 266 2.9% 3,088 33.7% 9,164
Hinsdale 223 43.1% 272 52.6% 22 4.3% -49 -8.5% 517
Huerfano 2,011 52.2% 1,705 44.3% 134 3.5% 306 7.9% 3,850
Jackson 151 22.0% 496 72.4% 38 5.6% -345 -50.4% 685
Jefferson 176,378 58.7% 115,978 38.6% 8,000 2.6% 60,400 20.1% 300,356
Kiowa 120 16.0% 602 80.4% 27 3.6% -482 -64.4% 749
Kit Carson 531 17.5% 2,408 79.5% 89 3.0% -1,877 -62.0% 3,028
La Plata 17,711 59.6% 11,231 37.8% 787 2.7% 6,480 21.8% 29,729
Lake 1,812 60.5% 1,067 35.6% 116 3.9% 745 24.9% 2,995
Larimer 100,466 57.3% 69,573 39.7% 5,239 3.0% 30,893 17.6% 175,278
Las Animas 3,291 49.3% 3,166 47.4% 216 3.2% 125 1.9% 6,673
Lincoln 401 19.0% 1,624 77.1% 81 3.9% -1,223 -58.1% 2,106
Logan 1,954 23.6% 5,980 72.4% 329 4.0% -4,026 -48.8% 8,263
Mesa 28,732 39.1% 41,766 56.9% 2,937 4.0% -13,034 -17.8% 73,435
Mineral 310 43.7% 369 52.0% 30 4.3% -59 -8.3% 709
Moffat 1,069 19.8% 4,150 76.9% 178 3.3% -3,081 -57.1% 5,397
Montezuma 5,072 40.5% 6,960 55.6% 477 3.9% -1,888 -15.1% 12,509
Montrose 7,255 34.8% 12,894 61.9% 681 3.2% -5,639 -27.1% 20,830
Morgan 2,786 27.4% 7,000 68.8% 383 3.8% -4,214 -41.4% 10,169
Otero 3,052 42.2% 3,958 54.7% 226 3.1% -906 -12.5% 7,236
Ouray 2,160 60.6% 1,327 37.2% 79 2.2% 833 23.4% 3,566
Park 4,234 42.2% 5,390 53.7% 419 4.1% -1,156 -11.5% 10,043
Phillips 400 20.2% 1,503 75.9% 78 3.9% -1,103 -55.7% 1,981
Pitkin 7,157 74.7% 2,281 23.8% 143 1.5% 4,876 50.9% 9,581
Prowers 1,172 27.4% 2,956 69.1% 149 3.5% -1,784 -41.7% 4,277
Pueblo 35,581 52.8% 29,453 43.8% 2,275 3.3% 6,088 9.0% 67,349
Rio Blanco 525 17.4% 2,391 79.1% 105 3.4% -1,866 -61.7% 3,021
Rio Grande 2,136 43.2% 2,625 53.1% 183 3.7% -489 -9.9% 4,944
Routt 8,737 63.0% 4,836 34.9% 294 2.2% 3,901 28.1% 13,867
Saguache 1,577 56.9% 1,070 38.6% 124 4.4% 507 18.3% 2,771
San Juan 350 65.1% 164 30.5% 24 4.4% 186 34.6% 538
San Miguel 3,110 76.2% 888 21.7% 85 2.1% 2,222 54.5% 4,083
Sedgwick 308 26.5% 807 69.4% 47 4.1% -499 -42.9% 1,162
Summit 9,710 68.2% 4,211 29.6% 322 2.3% 5,499 36.6% 14,243
Teller 4,515 33.3% 8,602 63.5% 440 3.2% -4,087 -30.2% 13,557
Washington 347 14.4% 1,964 81.8% 91 3.8% -1,617 -67.4% 2,402
Weld 50,129 39.0% 74,043 57.6% 4,418 3.4% -23,914 -18.6% 128,590
Yuma 740 18.7% 3,086 77.8% 141 3.5% -2,346 -59.1% 3,967
Totals1,397,17055.9%1,031,69341.3%71,2672.9%365,47714.6%2,500,130
Close

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Bennet won five of eight congressional districts.[135]

More information District, Bennet ...
District Bennet O'Dea Representative
1st 80% 18% Diana DeGette
2nd 69% 28% Joe Neguse
3rd 48% 49% Lauren Boebert
4th 40% 57% Ken Buck
5th 44% 52% Doug Lamborn
6th 60% 38% Jason Crow
7th 57% 40% Ed Perlmutter (117th Congress)
Brittany Pettersen (118th Congress)
8th 50% 46% Yadira Caraveo
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. [b]
    Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  3. [c]
    "Someone else" with 3%
  4. [d]
    "Another candidate" with 2%
  5. [e]
    Atwood (AV) with 1%; Cole (U) with 1%; "Someone else" with 1%
  6. [f]
    "Someone else" with 2%; Atwood (AV) with 1%; Cole (U) with 1%
  7. [g]
    "Someone else" with 6%
  8. [h]
    "Other" with 2%
  9. [i]
    "Someone else" with 2%
  10. [j]
    "Another party's candidate" with 2%
  11. [k]
    "Another party's candidate" with 2%
  12. [l]
    "Another candidate" with 1%
  13. [m]
    "Someone else" with 4%
  14. [n]
    "Other" with 0%
  15. [o]
    "Someone else" with 4%

Partisan clients

  1. [A]
    This poll was sponsored by O'Dea's campaign
  2. [B]
    This poll was sponsored by ProgressNow Colorado, a liberal nonprofit organization.
  3. [C]
    This poll was sponsored by the Senate Opportunity Fund
  4. [D]
    This poll was sponsored by the Republican Attorneys General Association
  5. [E]
    This poll was sponsored by Bremer's campaign
  6. [F]
    This poll was sponsored by Ready Colorado

References

External links

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