Michael Bennet

Here is an SEO-friendly biography of Michael Bennet — American politician, attorney, and public servant.

Michael Bennet – Life, Career & Ideas

Learn about Michael Bennet — his journey from education reformer to U.S. Senator from Colorado, his policy priorities, personal background, and influence.

Introduction

Michael Farrand Bennet (born November 28, 1964) is an American attorney, businessman, and Democratic politician serving as U.S. Senator from Colorado since 2009. Known for his focus on education reform, bipartisan collaboration, and practical governance, Bennet brings to the Senate a background in public schools, law, and private investment.

Early Life and Family

• Bennet was born in New Delhi, India, while his father was working for the U.S. State Department.

• His mother, Susanne Christine (née Klejman), came from a Jewish family; her parents survived the Warsaw Ghetto and clandestinely escaped during World War II.

• Bennet grew up primarily in Washington, D.C., where his family had ties to public service.

• He has a brother, James Bennet, who worked in journalism (e.g. as editorial page director for The New York Times).

Education and Early Career

• Bennet earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Wesleyan University in 1987.

• He then attended Yale Law School, where he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal, and received his J.D. in 1993.

• After law school, Bennet clerked for a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals (4th Circuit) and served as counsel under the U.S. Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton administration.

• He then entered the private sector, working as a managing director for the Anschutz Investment Company, helping reorganize businesses and consolidate entities.

Public Service & Political Career

Education Leadership: Superintendent of Denver Public Schools

• In 2005, Bennet became Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, despite having no prior experience as a school administrator.

• During his term, the district saw improvements in graduation rates, college enrollment, and reduced dropout rates.

• However, one controversial moment was the structuring of a 30-year refinancing bond deal (~$750 million) whose variable interest components created financial stress later on.

U.S. Senate

• In January 2009, Governor Bill Ritter appointed Bennet to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Ken Salazar, becoming Senator from Colorado.

• He won election in 2010 to a full term, and was re-elected in 2016 and 2022.

• Bennet has built a reputation for pragmatism, and often frames his approach as solving problems rather than promoting ideology.

• In 2025, he announced a run for Governor of Colorado for the 2026 election.

Policy Focus & Positions

• Education & Workforce: Given his background, Bennet focuses on funding, college affordability, skills training, and reducing educational disparities.

• Climate & Energy: He has sponsored and supported policies to address climate change, promote clean energy, and back bipartisan environmental action.

• Immigration: Bennet cosponsored the DREAM Act, and was a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” that proposed comprehensive immigration reform in 2013.

• Healthcare: He supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for a “public option” path rather than full Medicare for All.

• Bipartisanship & Governance: Bennet often emphasizes working across the aisle, reducing legislative gridlock, and maintaining procedural integrity.

Personal Life & Character

• Bennet is married to Susan Daggett, an attorney; they wed in 1997 and have three daughters.

• He has acknowledged dyslexia, and has spoken publicly about how it shaped his approach to learning and perseverance.

• Although his upbringing was not strictly observant, he acknowledges his Jewish heritage, especially through his maternal family’s history of Holocaust survival.

• His family’s legacy is steeped in public service; his father, Douglas J. Bennet, held roles in government and was president of National Public Radio.

Legacy & Influence

• Bennet represents a model of policy-oriented governance rather than pure partisanship, from education reform to national issues.

• His candidacy for governor marks a potential shift from federal to state leadership, reflecting a belief that impactful change can begin at the state level.

• His ability to navigate both public service and private sector contexts gives him a broad understanding of economic and social levers for change.