John Hickenlooper To Withdraw From 2020 Presidential Race

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was one of many in a crowded field of 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls, plans to withdraw his name from the race on Thursday.

Multiple media outlets, including many in Denver, have stated that Hickenlooper will officially make the announcement on Thursday. A reporter with CBS4 in Denver, Shaun Boyd, was one of those who reported Hickenlooper will drop out of the presidential race, but hasn't ruled out a run for the Senate in 2020.

"#BREAKING: source close to @Hickenlooper tells me he will announce tomorrow that he is dropping out of the presidential race. No decision yet on Senate bid.@CBSDenver #copolitics #2020Election," Boyd wrote.

Hickenlooper rode onto the national scene earlier this year as a candidate who said his ability to lead Colorado into becoming one of the first states to legalize marijuana. He had some quirks as a candidate—like admitting he had gone to see a popular X-rated movie with his mother—but still seemed politically more centrist than his 2020 presidential peers.

The former governor didn't claim health care should be free for everyone, and that those with health insurance should be able to keep it. He said those with private insurance should not be "forced to give it up," and said universal health care would only work if private insurers and those it insured were covered underneath an umbrella separate from the government.

Hickenlooper gave an interview on CNN not long after the Christchurch, New Zealand shooting in March, and he said back then that U.S. President Donald Trump "fans the flames of hatred" after the attacks.

"President Trump should be ashamed of himself," Hickenlooper said, which brought a rousing standing ovation at his CNN interview.

During his interview in March, Hickenlooper was asked about a potential debate with Trump. The former governor said it was not a good idea to "face a bully face-to-face."

"I can't wait for Donald Trump to make up nicknames for me," Hickenlooper said at the time. "It's what bullies hate. They're insecure, narcissists and hate being laughed at."

Hickenlooper was eventually overshadowed by other Democratic candidates in the field, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and others.

Hickenlooper was consistently running at 1 percent in most national polls.