Hickenlooper to Run for Colorado Governor

By Jonathan Weber, 1-12-10

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, an enormously popular Democrat, will run for governor of Colorado following incumbent Bill Ritter’s decision not to seek re-election. Hickenlooper, a one-time petroleum geologist and successful restaurant and real estate entrepreneur, will likely face former Republican congressman Scott McIniss in the general election this fall.

Hickenlooper is scheduled to make a formal announcement his afternoon, according to the Denver Post.

Hickenlooper has emerged as a classic new-generation Western Democrat since winning the mayoral election in an upset in 2003. He was urged to run for governor three years ago but declined on the grounds that he had barely gotten started in Denver.

Hickenlooper was considered by far the strongest potential Democratic candidate after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said last week that he would stay in Washington rather than seek the top office in his home state. President Obama even called Hickenlooper to urge him to run.