Denver Democrat elected president of state Senate

LEGISLATURE

State Sen. James Coleman, with Rep. Leslie Herod, speaks during a news conference at the Blair-Caldwell African American Library in Denver in 2023. Coleman was selected by fellow Democrats Friday to serve as Senate president. HELEN H. RICHARDSON — DENVER POST FILE

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By Nick Coltrain and Seth Klamann

The Denver Post

Sen. James Coleman, a Denver Democrat, will lead the state Senate as its president.

Voters in his district reelected Coleman on Tuesday, giving him more than 80% of the vote. He was uncontested in his selection for the top role in the chamber during a caucus meeting Friday, succeeding term-limited Steve Fenberg.

Coleman previously served as the Senate president pro tempore, who leads the chamber in the president’s absence. The president runs the chamber and serves on top committees guiding legislative operations.

“I will work hard to make sure that you are seen, supported and promoted,” Coleman told the Democratic caucus after he was selected. “No one will outserve me serving you. We’re a family. We will show the country why Colorado is special and continues to be a model.”

Democrats continue to hold a 23-seat near-supermajority in the 35-seat chamber after Tuesday’s election. For leadership positions, they reelected Sen. Robert Rodriguez, also of Denver, to continue as majority leader; Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet of Commerce City as Senate president pro tempore; Sen. Lisa Cutter of Jefferson County as assistant majority leader; and Sens. Jeff Bridges and Judy Amabile to serve on the powerful Joint Budget Committee.

Republicans have reelected Sen. Paul Lundeen of Monument to serve as minority leader and tapped Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa for assistant minority leader. Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer of Weld County was selected to continue serving on the Joint Budget Committee.

House Democrats postponed their caucus elections until Monday; at least two of their members’ races remained too close to call Friday.

The outcome of those races won’t change the balance of power in the House, as Democrats look set to keep their supermajority in the chamber.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Majority Leader Monica Duran are expected to be reelected to those posts, although assistant majority leader Jennifer Bacon of Denver will face a challenge from Rep. Andy Boesenecker of Fort Collins.

House Republicans, who may pick up at least one seat to build on their superminority status, reelected their current leadership Friday morning. Minority Leader Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs and assistant minority leader Ty Winter of Trinidad were reelected unopposed.

As vote totals stood Friday morning, House Republicans will hold 20 seats in the 65-member chamber.