“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
11.0% of receipts from PACs — clean under the 15% cap, and no corporate leadership PAC. (FEC 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
82%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No 2020 election denial, no fake-elector role, and no documented support for partisan gerrymandering. (Jan 6 roll call; OpenSecrets; redistricting record)
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
72%★ earned
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Long cultivated an affable, bipartisan persona with little record of contemptuous rhetoric.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
70%★ earned
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Runs an optimistic, affirmative brand rather than fear- or grievance-driven messaging.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
70%★ earned
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Generally solid factual record with limited fact-check controversies.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
52%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Moderate profile but votes largely with his party in the Senate; occasional bipartisan bills.
60
7Morality
55%☆ not yet
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
Colorado's ethics commission found he twice violated the state gift ban (2020), fined him $2,750, and held him in contempt for defying a subpoena.
60
Engage Hickenlooper
Every public channel, one click. Hold them to it — warmly, in the register of right speech.
This review is offered freely and openly to correction. A challenge is considered only when it states a specific reason and links to sources that substantiate it — an assertion without evidence is not reviewed.
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →