Michael Farrand Bennet (born November 28, 1964, in New Delhi, India, to American parents) is a U.S. Senator from Colorado, serving since his 2009 appointment by Governor Bill Ritter to fill the vacancy left by Ken Salazar. A moderate Democrat known for his bipartisan approach, he previously served as superintendent of Denver Public Schools (2005–2009) and as chief of staff to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (2003–2005). He grew up primarily in Washington, D.C., attended the Dalton School, graduated from Wesleyan University (BA, 1987), and earned a JD from Yale Law School (1993). Before public service, he worked as counsel and managing director at the Anschutz Investment Company in Denver. Bennet won full Senate terms in 2010, 2016, and 2022, championing issues such as immigration reform, climate change, economic development, education policy, infrastructure, and mental health. He serves on the Finance, Agriculture, and Intelligence committees. In 2023, he announced his candidacy for governor of Colorado in the 2026 election while retaining his Senate seat. He is married to Susan Daggett (since 1997) and has three daughters. His career has included some controversies over school closures and corporate ties, but he remains a prominent pragmatic figure in Colorado politics.