John Wright Hickenlooper Jr. is a renowned American politician, born on February 7, 1952, in Narberth, Pennsylvania. He has been serving as the junior United States senator from Colorado since 2021, a position he won after a distinguished career in politics.
Prior to his entry into politics, Hickenlooper was a geologist and businessman. He co-founded the Wynkoop Brewing Company, one of the first brewpubs in the United States, in 1988. This entrepreneurial venture was a significant milestone in his life, showcasing his innovative spirit and ability to take calculated risks.
Hickenlooper's foray into politics began when he was elected as the 43rd mayor of Denver in 2003, a position he held for two terms. During his tenure, he earned widespread recognition for his exceptional leadership, earning a spot among TIME Magazine's "America's five best big-city mayors" in 2005.
In 2010, Hickenlooper announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor, succeeding incumbent Bill Ritter. He won the primary uncontested and went on to defeat his opponents in the general election, securing a significant 51% of the vote. He was reelected in 2014, defeating his Republican challenger Bob Beauprez.
As governor, Hickenlooper introduced universal background checks and banned high-capacity magazines in the aftermath of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting. He also expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, resulting in a significant reduction in the state's uninsured population.
Initially, Hickenlooper opposed marijuana legalization, but he has since come to support it. He also sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidency in 2019, although he withdrew before the primaries took place.
In 2020, Hickenlooper ran for the U.S. Senate, winning the Democratic nomination and the general election against incumbent Republican Cory Gardner. At the age of 68, he became the oldest first-term senator to represent Colorado and the only Quaker member of Congress.
