Photo: Speaker Julie McCluskie is seen in the Colorado House of Representatives on May 4, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)
This story by Lindsey Toomer appeared on Colorado Newsline on November 11, 2024.
Colorado House Democrats reelected Rep. Julie McCluskie of Dillon on Monday, to serve as speaker of the chamber.
McCluskie will lead a Democratic majority in the 75th General Assembly, which will convene on January 8, 2025. Whether Democrats will have another supermajority is yet to be determined. Some statehouse races had yet to be called Monday morning.
“As public servants, we have proven ourselves to be the party that listens to the people and gets stuff done,” McCluskie said. “I believe in part that is why Coloradans have once again trusted us to lead this state.”
Rep. Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge was reelected majority leader, and Rep. Jennifer Bacon of Denver was reelected assistant majority leader. Rep. Matthew Martinez of Monte Vista and Rep. Iman Jodeh of Aurora were elected majority co-whips, and Rep. Mandy Lindsay of Aurora and Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder were elected majority co-chairs.
“I am incredibly proud of who we are, what we stand for, and what we have achieved,” Duran said. “But we have a lot of work to do to make Colorado more affordable, safer and healthier. It increasingly falls on us to protect our citizens’ rights and their freedoms. We have a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to.”
Black elected officials and community members from across Colorado signed onto a letter of support for Bacon’s candidacy for assistant majority leader, stressing the need for Black women in leadership amid a challenge from Rep. Andy Boesenecker of Fort Collins. He dropped out of the running Monday morning, and Bacon won reelection unanimously.
Senate Democrats elected Sen. James Coleman of Denver Senate president on Friday, and House and Senate Republicans reelected their minority leaders, Rep. Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs and Sen. Paul Lundeen of Monument.