Jess Cohen
October 15, 2026 · Website
Baisley’s Extreme Views Made Clear in Final Senate Debate
Baisley called for a national abortion ban, elimination of public schools
Baisley defended his record supporting blanket pardons for January 6th rioters, targeting gay people, spreading Islamophobia
COLORADO – Last night, in the last of two General Election U.S. Senate debates in Colorado, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper contrasted his fight to end the costly war with Iran and reverse President Trump’s healthcare cuts with his opponent’s extreme views.
“We have a clear choice here. Mr. Baisley … supports every action of President Trump,” Hickenlooper said. “We need change in Washington. A vote for Mr. Baisley would be two years more of the same.”
On stage, State Senator Mark Baisley admitted that he supports a national abortion ban. He even went so far to declare that he thinks the fight over abortion access is “the slavery decision of our generation.”
Baisley refused to walk back his comments suggesting January 6th rioters were left wing protestors and his support for blanket pardons for the rioters.
Baisley later declared that he supports ending public schools, “I think it was a mistake that we made from the very beginning that schools, that government at any level deliver the instruction, you know, that runs the schools.”
Hickenlooper pressed Mark Baisley on his support for Trump’s extreme budget bill that gutted Medicaid to hand out tax cuts to the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans. Baisley doubled down and refused to detail his proposal to “remove government from healthcare.”
“I’d like to see government step away, stop being involved so much, except for in the obvious things like doctor licensing and that sort of thing,” Baisley said.
In contrast, Hickenlooper detailed his opposition to the war with Iran that’s driving up costs and how he is fighting to reverse the president’s cruel healthcare cuts.
CHECK OUT WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
There may not be much drama around Colorado’s U.S. Senate race, but Wednesday’s debate between a Republican state lawmaker and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper at least provided some contrast.
For Hickenlooper, his focus was on President Donald Trump. From the stage at Metropolitan State University of Denver, he repeatedly linked his opponent, state Sen. Mark Baisley, to the Republican chief executive and said supporting Baisley would mean helping Trump. And as he mounts his last political campaign after weathering a surprisingly close primary race in June, the 74-year-old acknowledged that voters were unhappy with the direction of the country.
Newsline: Hickenlooper debates Trump, healthcare with GOP challenger Baisley
Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper used a debate Wednesday night to ask Colorado voters to send him back to Washington to push back against President Donald Trump and start “rebuilding our economy,” and reject a Republican challenger he said would be a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s agenda.
Denver Axios: Colorado GOP U.S Senate candidate defends Trump’s Iran war
…Pressed about rising gas prices, Baisley said: “We’re going to all have to pay a little bit more … that’s unfortunate.”
The intrigue: The candidates also split over Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices.
Hickenlooper called the move “a betrayal,” accusing the president of weakening pressure on Russia to protect Republicans ahead of the midterms.
Baisley expressed discomfort with relying on Russia but deferred to Trump: “I’m going to trust the president is making a wise decision in the long run.”
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