With nine names appearing on the ballot for who’ll represent the state as a member of the U.S. Senate, voters in Colorado will have several individuals to chose from on November 8, 2022. While the ballot may be even more crowded than usual this time around, the main contenders remain Incumbent Democratic Senator Michael Bennet and Republican nominee Joe O’Dea.

Michael Bennet has been a United States senator since 2009. Now seeking re-election for his third term, Bennet ran unopposed in the Democratic Party’s primary held on June 28, 2022. He currently sits on the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Finance. He’s the chair of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources as well as the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure. If re-elected, Bennet is prepared to work with anyone, regardless of party, for the prosperity of Colorado. He plans to focus more on growing the state’s economy and job creation. He’s also determined to protect Colorado’s public lands, air, and water while fighting corruption in Washington.

Joe O’Dea, a construction CEO, won the Republican primaries on June 28, 2022. According to him, he’s contesting because “We need to return the spending to pre-COVID levels. We need to get that back into a balanced budget. I'll focus hard on a balanced budget. I'll focus on deregulation. I think that's the number-one thing crushing working Americans and businesses here in Colorado.” Upon getting elected as a U.S. senator, his first priority is reducing inflation and the deficit while repurposing funds to better serve children and the community. Next, he intends to establish an American energy dominance and promote the country’s international natural gas market.

All of this boils down to one thing, who would make a better representative to the Senate from Colorado, Democrat Michael Bennet or Republican Joe O’Dea?