Sen. James Coleman, a Denver Democrat, speaks at the June 4, 2024 signing of a bill to require a racial equity study in Colorado. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)
Colorado Senate Democrats elected Sen. James Coleman of Denver to serve as the next Senate president.
Coleman, who previously served as president pro tempore, was elected as the sole nominee for president during the Senate Democratic Caucus’s leadership elections Friday.
“I will work hard to make sure that you are seen, supported and promoted, as I’ve told all of you,” Coleman told his fellow Senate Democrats. “No one will outserve me serving you. We’re a family. We will show the country why Colorado is special, and continue to be a model.”
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Coleman thanked outgoing Senate President Steve Fenberg, who will leave the Senate come January, for his leadership and mentorship. He also thanked Sen. Julie Gonzales of Denver, who also considered a run for the president role, “for making this race competitive” and for “pushing me to be my best.” Gonzales was not nominated during the virtual elections and Coleman won unanimously.
Sen. Janet Buckner of Aurora, the outgoing majority caucus chair, nominated Coleman. She said she’s known Coleman since he was in high school and said he “has been preparing for this important role his whole life.”
The caucus also elected Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet of Commerce City as the next president pro tempore. Sen. Robert Rodriguez of Denver was selected to return as majority leader. Sen. Lisa Cutter of Littleton will serve as assistant majority leader, Sen. Nick Hinrichsen of Pueblo as majority whip and Sen. Dylan Roberts of Frisco as majority caucus chair.
For the Joint Budget Committee, Senate Democrats selected Sen. Jeff Bridges of Greenwood Village and Sen.-elect Judy Amabile of Boulder. The committee writes the state budget and is one of the most powerful legislative bodies.
Democrats are on track to holding their supermajority in the House following Tuesday’s election, and while it appears they’ll fall short of a supermajority in the Senate, they are on track to maintain a strong majority in the Senate.
Colorado Senate Republicans reelected Sen. Paul Lundeen of Monument as Senate minority leader Thursday. House Republicans reelected Rep. Rose Pugliese to serve as minority leader Friday.
“I am deeply honored by the trust our caucus members have placed in me,” Pugliese said in a statement. “I traveled the state multiple times to support our House candidates, walking neighborhoods and making calls on their behalf, while overseeing the largest investment in targeted House races of any Republican House Minority Leader.”
Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa will serve as assistant minority leader in the Senate, Sen. Byron Pelton of Sterling as caucus chair, and Sen. Janice Rich of Grand Junction as minority whip. Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer of Weld County was again selected to represent the caucus on the Joint Budget Committee.
Rep. Ty Winter of Trinidad was reelected to serve as assistant minority leader in the House, Rep. Ryan Armagost of Berthoud was elected as minority whip, and Rep. Anthony Hartsook of Parker was elected House Republican caucus chair.
House Democrats postponed their leadership elections to Monday.
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