Incumbent Democratic Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico both won reelection Tuesday, securing second terms in seats long rated as safely Democratic, according to Associated Press projections.

In Colorado, Hickenlooper defeated Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley and independent Forward Party candidate Bob Chew. The 74-year-old former Denver mayor and two-term governor first captured the seat in 2020 by unseating Republican Cory Gardner. He entered the race as a heavy favorite in a state that has voted consistently Democratic in statewide contests since 2018. Major forecasters rated the seat solidly Democratic, and Hickenlooper held a large fundraising edge, raising roughly $9.3 million compared with about $138,000 for Baisley.

The general election was relatively quiet after a closer-than-expected Democratic primary in June, in which Hickenlooper defeated progressive state Sen. Julie Gonzales, 52.8% to 47.2%. Hickenlooper’s campaign emphasized opposition to President Donald Trump, while Baisley, an aerospace engineer and one of the more conservative members of the Colorado Legislature, focused on tax cuts and reduced federal regulation.

Chew, who spent nearly $3 million of his own money, centered his message on the national debt. Hickenlooper has said the 2026 race would be his final Senate bid, citing a desire to spend more time with his young son, though he indicated he would serve a full six-year term if elected. Early returns showed him with a commanding lead, consistent with pre-election polling that projected a margin of roughly 20 points.

In New Mexico, Luján defeated Republican Larry Marker. Luján, first elected to the Senate in 2020 after five terms in the U.S. House representing New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, faced limited opposition. No Republican candidate qualified for the primary ballot, so Marker, a former oil and gas operator, received the nomination as a write-in candidate. Luján won his own primary easily, taking more than 84% of the vote.

The contest was never considered competitive. Forecasters rated it solidly Democratic, and Luján maintained consistent double-digit leads in polling while raising several million dollars against Marker’s roughly $90,000–$100,000. New Mexico has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2002, and Democrats hold all statewide offices and the state’s congressional delegation. Luján’s campaign emphasized lowering costs and expanding access to health care. With the outcome never in serious doubt, the race drew little national attention compared with more competitive Senate contests elsewhere.

Both results were expected and reinforced the Democratic lean of the two Western states. Neither race was viewed as pivotal to the overall balance of power in the Senate.