Colorado Politics

Hickenlooper plans to ‘sort through’ presidential decision this summer

For months, Gov. John Hickenlooper has told reporters he’s too focused on being governor to think about running for president.

Now he says he’s thinking about it this summer.

“My wife and I have been talking about it for a couple of months and talking to old friends whose opinions we respect and trust,” the coy Colorado governor said in remarks reported by The Hill newspaper. “We’ll try and sort through it this summer.”

He said something similar in a D.C. appearance back in April.

Hickenlooper is one of a large number of potential Democratic nominees being talked about for 2020, though he has consistently said until now that he would focus on the next chapter of his life after his second and last term as governor ends next January.

He made his latest remarks on the Kaiser Health News podcast “What the Health?” taped in Colorado during Spotlight Health Conference, part of the Aspen Ideas Festival, which ended Sunday.

You can listen to the full podcast by clicking here.

He speaks in the podcast alongside Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, another moderate Western governor being sized up – and making similar rounds to high-profile policy gatherings – to potentially take on President Trump in 2020.

Hickenlooper was widely reported as a potential pick to be Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s running mate two years ago, before she opted for Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.

Hickenlooper also is said to be considering a run against Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner in 2020.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper speaks during the panel Economic Development at the National Governor Association winter meeting Feb. 25 in Washington. 
(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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Tonight, join us at ColoradoPolitics.com for live coverage as the primary-election results roll in. The primary will decide who will be on the ballot in November in dozens of statewide, regional and local races. With Gov. John Hickenlooper leaving office, there’s a crowded field of candidates to succeed him from both major parties, as well […]


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