- Michael Bennet was appointed to the Senate in 2009 succeeding Ken Salazar — one of the few appointed senators to successfully convert appointment to a full elected tenure.
- Colorado has transformed from a genuine swing state (Republicans held both Senate seats in 2002) to a consistent D+5 presidential state driven by Denver metro demographic change.
- Bennet's Child Tax Credit proposal — which provided temporary expanded payments in 2021 — is his signature legislative achievement and a continued policy priority for 2026 campaigning.
- Bennet's 2026 re-election is in Likely D territory given Colorado's structural lean, though a strong Republican candidate with personal-vote appeal could tighten the race.
- The 2020 presidential campaign run (and withdrawal) gave Bennet national exposure but also highlighted his constraints as a centrist Democrat in an increasingly progressive primary environment.
Colorado's Political Transformation
Colorado was genuinely competitive at the statewide level through the early 2000s. Republicans held both Senate seats as recently as 2002. Today, Democrats hold both Senate seats, the governor's mansion, both chambers of the state legislature, and Colorado has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 2008. The transformation reflects demographic change — rapid growth in the Denver metro area and its suburbs, in-migration of college-educated professionals, and a declining share of the rural white working-class population that drives Republican margins elsewhere.
The Denver suburbs — Douglas County, Arapahoe County, Jefferson County — that were once reliably Republican have swung significantly toward Democrats, mirroring the suburban shift seen nationally. Colorado's evolution is often cited as a template for what Arizona, Georgia, and potentially Texas might look like in 10-20 years if demographic trends continue.
The Child Tax Credit: A Signature Unfinished
The expanded Child Tax Credit that Bennet championed in the 2021 American Rescue Plan was the largest single anti-poverty policy in a generation. The credit increased from $2,000 per child to $3,000-$3,600 depending on age, made it fully refundable so the lowest-income families received the full benefit, and changed it to monthly payments. Columbia University researchers found it reduced child poverty by approximately 40% — from 15% to 12% — during its one-year implementation in 2021.
When the expansion expired at the end of 2021 and the Senate failed to pass the Build Back Better Act that would have extended it, child poverty rose sharply in 2022. Bennet has consistently cited this as the most consequential policy failure of the Democratic trifecta. He has continued advocating for restoration and has been willing to negotiate bipartisan versions with Republicans who want work requirements included — a position that distinguishes him from more progressive Democrats who oppose any conditionality.
The 2020 Presidential Campaign and the Ted Cruz Moment
Bennet's 2020 presidential campaign is a historical footnote, but it produced one genuinely memorable moment: a floor speech during the January 2019 government shutdown in which Bennet, visibly furious, confronted Ted Cruz's claims about Democratic responsibility for the shutdown. The speech went viral and briefly elevated Bennet's national profile in a way his measured policy work typically does not. His campaign withdrew from the race in February 2020 after placing fifth in New Hampshire — a result that ended a candidacy that had placed a sincere but unsuccessful bet on the New Hampshire electorate rewarding moderate, policy-heavy politics over celebrity and ideological intensity. He returned to the Senate and remained one of its more substantive members on education, child welfare, and Western water issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Michael Bennet up for reelection in 2026?
Yes. Bennet (D-CO) is a Class 2 senator first appointed in 2009, then elected in 2010, 2016, and 2022. His 2026 race is rated Likely Democratic. Colorado has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 2008.
What is Michael Bennet's signature policy work?
The 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion, which lifted 3 million children from poverty during its one-year run. He also served as Denver Public Schools superintendent before the Senate and has been a consistent education policy voice.
Why did Michael Bennet run for president in 2020?
Bennet ran as a moderate alternative in the crowded 2020 field, focusing on New Hampshire. He withdrew after placing fifth there in February 2020. His campaign is remembered for a viral Senate majority math confrontation with Ted Cruz during the 2019 government shutdown.
