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, Bennet won full terms in 2010 and 2016.

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.

Nominee Michael Bennet, incumbent U.S. Senator

Eliminated at convention Karen Breslin, lawyer and university instructor

Declined Joe Salazar, former state representative and candidate for Colorado Attorney General in 2018 (ran for state senate)

Endorsements

Results

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Nominee Joe O'Dea, construction company ownerJoe O’Dea beats Ron Hanks in Colorado’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, The Colorado Sun, June 28, 2022.In debate between Senate hopefuls Ron Hanks and Joe O’Dea, it’s hardcore vs. softcore, The Colorado Sun, June 22, 2022.U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea believes abortions should be legal through 20 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions after, The Colorado Sun, August 19, 2022.$5 million in TV ads attacking Joe O’Dea in Colorado’s U.S. Senate race are hitting the airwaves, The Colorado Sun, September 23, 2022.

Eliminated in primary Ron Hanks, state representative for the 60th district (2021–2023) and nominee for in 2010

Eliminated at convention Eli Bremer, Olympic athlete, U.S. Air Force major and former chair of the El Paso Republican Party Gino Campana, former Fort Collins council member, city developer Deborah Flora, former radio host Daniel Hendricks, small business owner Juli Henry, nonprofit founder Gregory J. Moore, Colorado Christian University professor Peter Yu, businessman and nominee for Colorado's 2nd congressional district in 2018

Withdrew Erik Aadland, Army veteran (became Republican nominee for Colorado's 7th congressional district)

Declined Ken Buck, U.S. representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district, chair of the Colorado Republican Party, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 Heidi Ganahl, university regent (ran for governor) Cory Gardner, former U.S. Senator (2015–2021) Darryl Glenn, former Colorado Springs city councilman (2005–2011), former El Paso County commissioner (2011–2019), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016 (ran for Mayor of Colorado Springs in 2023) Clarice Navarro, former state representative from the 47th district (2013–2017) Bill Owens, former governor (1999–2007) Steven Reams, Weld County sheriff (ran for re-election)

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RonHanks JoeO'Dea UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R)Public Opinion Strategies (R)May 15–20, 2022400 (LV)± 6.0%14%38%47%

Results

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. 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%.

Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report August 18, 2022 Inside Elections June 29, 2022 Sabato's Crystal Ball March 1, 2022PoliticoAugust 12, 2022RCPNovember 4, 2022Fox News May 12, 2022DDHQJuly 20, 2022538August 18, 2022The EconomistSeptember 7, 2022

Endorsements

Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated MichaelBennet (D) JoeO'Dea (R) UndecidedMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsOctober 26 – November 5, 2022November 7, 202250.0%44.3%5.7%Bennet +5.7FiveThirtyEightFiveThirtyEightJuly 26 – November 7, 2022November 7, 202251.3%42.9%5.8%Bennet +8.4270towin270towinNovember 1–7, 2022November 7, 202251.0%43.4%6.6%Bennet +6.6Average50.8%43.5%5.7%Bennet +7.3

Graphical summary

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) JoeO'Dea (R) BrianPeotter (L) Other Undecidedco/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)November 3–7, 2022856 (LV)± 3.3%51%43%–3%3%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)November 2–5, 20221,983 (LV)± 2.0%51%44%2%2%–The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)October 30 – November 1, 20221,084 (LV)± 2.9%48%46%2%1%3%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeOctober 26–29, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%49%42%2%3%5%51%43%2%3%–co/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)October 24–25, 2022826 (LV)± 3.4%50%34%–6%10%CU Boulder/YouGovCU Boulder/YouGovOctober 11–19, 2022709 (LV)± 4.4%56%42%–2%–CiviqsCiviqsOctober 15–18, 2022600 (LV)± 5.0%54%41%–2%3%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D)October 6–11, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%49%38%7%–7%52%42%––6%Marist CollegeMarist CollegeOctober 3–6, 20221,127 (RV)± 4.7%48%41%–2%9%983 (LV)± 5.0%49%43%–2%7%Data for Progress (D)Data for Progress (D)October 3–6, 20221,005 (LV)± 3.0%50%41%3%1%5%OnMessage Inc. (R)OnMessage Inc. (R)September 20–27, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%46%45%–4%5%Keating Research/Magellan StrategiesKeating Research/Magellan StrategiesSeptember 18–26, 20221,060 (LV)± 3.0%46%36%––18%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)September 20–24, 20221,078 (LV)± 2.9%49%43%4%<1%5%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeSeptember 18–19, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.0%46%36%–4%14%Public Policy Polling (D)Public Policy Polling (D)August 30–31, 2022782 (V)± 3.5%46%35%7%–12%The Tarrance Group (R)The Tarrance Group (R)August 22–25, 2022600 (LV)± 4.1%48%47%––5%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)August 15–19, 20221,087 (LV)± 2.9%47%42%5%1%5%McLaughlin & Associates (R)McLaughlin & Associates (R)July 24–26, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%48%40%––12%Global Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 2–8, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%49%36%––14%

Michael Bennet vs. Ron Hanks Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) RonHanks (R) UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)June 2–8, 2022400 (RV)± 4.9%50%37%13%Global Strategy Group (D)October 19–24, 2021400 (RV)± 4.9%52%34%13%

Michael Bennet vs. Eli Bremer Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) EliBremer (R) UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)October 19–24, 2021400 (RV)± 4.9%48%35%17%co/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)September 9–12, 2021742 (LV)± 3.6%40%32%22% Michael Bennet vs. Gino Campana Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) GinoCampana (R) UndecidedBlueprint Polling (D)April 6–8, 2022612 (V)± 4.0%46%40%14% Michael Bennet vs. Lauren Boebert Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) LaurenBoebert (R) UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)June 17–23, 2021800 (RV)± 3.5%51%38%11% Michael Bennet vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) GenericRepublican UndecidedGlobal Strategy Group (D)Global Strategy Group (D) June 2–8, 2022800 (RV)± 3.4%49%37%14%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)January 12–13, 2022630 (LV)± 3.9%45%46%9%Global Strategy Group (D)June 17–23, 2021800 (RV)± 3.5%48%40%12% Michael Bennet vs. generic opponent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MichaelBennet (D) GenericOpponent UndecidedMcLaughlin & Associates (R)July 24–26, 2022500 (LV)± 4.4%44%42%14% Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericDemocrat GenericRepublican Undecidedco/efficient (R)September 9–12, 2021742 (LV)± 3.6%44%42%14%

Debates + 2022 United States Senate general election in Colorado debates Date Host Moderator Link Democratic RepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee Withdrawn Michael Bennet Joe O'Dea 1 Oct. 28, 2022 Colorado State University Youtube

Results

By county