DENVER – Senate Democrats on Saturday made few significant changes to their leadership team after a dismal election.
After losing the Senate to Republicans, Sen. Morgan Carroll of Aurora was tapped by her Democratic caucus to continue serving as their leader, but this time in the minority. She currently serves as Senate president.
Republicans will control the chamber 18-17 when the legislature meets in January. It will be the first time Republicans hold the power in a decade. Senate Democrats currently hold the chamber by the same 18-17 margin.
Carroll defended her side of the aisle’s work, suggesting that with Democrats in control, Colorado’s economy grew and jobs were created. She also pointed to civil-rights issues, including same-sex civil unions legislation passed in 2013 and efforts supporting renewable energy, including passing a tougher standard for rural parts of the state.
“We will continue to move the state forward to address the real-world needs of the people of Colorado,” Carroll said in a statement. “It is an honor to serve with and for so many great senators on behalf of the people of Colorado.”
The caucus also elected Sen. Rollie Heath of Boulder to serve as assistant minority leader. Heath currently serves as majority leader.
“The election is over, and now it’s time to start governing,” Heath said in a statement. “We have a hard-working team. I know we will be effective because we hear one another out and collaborate within the caucus and across the aisle. We all have a shared goal, and that is to ensure Colorado is thriving.”
Other caucus selections included Sen. Jessie Ulibarri of Westminster to serve as minority caucus chairman; Sen. Matt Jones of Louisville to serve as minority whip; and Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver to continue serving on the Joint Budget Committee.
It was rumored that Carroll might step aside for a new member of the caucus to lead. It’s not uncommon for leadership to step down when a majority is lost, which was the case for Republicans when they lost the House in 2012.
Carroll served in the majority in 2013 when Democrats pushed an ambitious agenda that included a controversial package of gun-control measures and a controversial elections overhaul.
That year, two Senate Democrats were ousted from office in recall elections, including then-President John Morse of Colorado Springs. Democrats took both those seats back this year, but it wasn’t enough to let them keep control of the chamber.
Senate Democrats were the last to hold their leadership elections. Senate Republicans elected Sen. Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs to serve as president; House Democrats tapped Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Boulder to serve as speaker; and House Republicans elected Rep. Brian DelGrosso of Loveland to serve as minority leader.
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
