1-minute voter guide: Colorado's U.S. Senate race between Hickenlooper and Baisley

Why it matters: The Nov. 3 election will give the winner a six-year term — extending beyond Trump's term — that will include key votes on federal taxes, health coverage and immigration enforcement.

Meet the candidates: Hickenlooper is a former brewpub owner who served as Denver mayor and Colorado governor before winning his Senate seat in 2020 by defeating Republican incumbent Cory Gardner.

• He's built a reputation as a pragmatic dealmaker willing to work with Republicans.
• He says a second Senate term would be his last.

Baisley works in aerospace and cybersecurity. He served in the state House in 2019 before joining the state Senate in 2023, representing a district that includes Woodland Park.

• His politics often align with far-right conservatives, but he's struggled to gain traction.

On the issues: The candidates are sharply divided.

• Hickenlooper opposed Trump's tariffs and the GOP spending bill, while Baisley supports both of them.
• Baisley supports deporting immigrants deemed dangerous while allowing vetted legal immigrants to stay. Hickenlooper's a vocal critic of ICE enforcement tactics and detention practices.
• Hickenlooper wants to restore federal abortion protections, while Baisley has voted against similar protections at the state level.
• The war in Iran splits the candidates: Hickenlooper calls it reckless and expensive, while Baisley has defended the military campaign.

The intrigue: A third candidate, the Forward Party's Bob Chew, is spending big money to get recognized in the race, but he remains at the back of the pack.