How allies of Sen. John Hickenlooper tried to ward off a progressive challenge by Julie Gonzales

[Emile]

Colorado state senator, her consultants describe a ‘pattern of pressure’ before campaign launch. In late November, political consultant Michael Whitehorn got a call from a colleague who works for a Colorado Democratic Party campaign fund.

Whitehorn’s firm had signed on to support state Sen. Julie Gonzales’ impending campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, and the caller — Chris Rork — ran a party campaign fund. He also once worked as a regional director for Hickenlooper.

During the call, Whitehorn recalled, Rork told him that it wasn’t too late for Whitehorn’s firm to avoid being blacklisted for working on a campaign that they were “going to lose anyway.” Whitehorn said Rork told him that if Gonzales’ primary campaign didn’t go forward, he could “guarantee” that Whitehorn’s firm would be hired to work for the unified Democratic campaign next year.

Rork also allegedly proposed an “alternative path” for Gonzales, Whitehorn said.“And that would be the Denver mayor’s office. He implied there would be some version of more support for a race like that than there would be for a Senate race,” Whitehorn said. He added that Rork didn’t provide any other details, including the timing — Mayor Mike Johnston is midway through his first term — or what sort of support could be available.

Read more about the pressure to try to dissuade Gonzales from entering the race: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/12/09/colorado-julie-gonzales-john-hickenlooper/