Michael Bennet defeats Republican Joe O’Dea in Colorado Senate race

Colorado’s race became a surprise toss-up over the election campaign, with polls showing the candidates evenly matched.

O’Dea, a first-time candidate, set himself apart from other Republicans in this election by positioning himself as a moderate who distanced himself from former president Donald Trump and accepted the 2020 election results.

Bennet has held his seat in the Senate since 2009. Like other Democrats in toss-up races, Bennet sought to distance himself somewhat from Biden during his campaign, saying he disagreed with the president’s approach to student loan forgiveness.