Colorado House Speaker-designate Julie McCluskie today announced her appointment of Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy to the role of Speaker Pro Tempore and announced her assignments for 11 legislative committee chairs (and committee members). For the first time, the House will be led by three women, and there are a historic number of women of color in leadership positions.
“Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy’s institutional knowledge, proven leadership, and dedication to making Colorado a better place for everyone are exactly why he will make an excellent Speaker Pro Tempore,” said McCluskie (D-Dillon).
State Representative Julie McCluskie won her race for the Colorado Seventh District Representative seat. She was part of a cohort of Democrat party candidates visiting Salida in early November. Photo by Jan Wondra.
“As outgoing Chair of our State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee and a prominent member of the Health and Insurance Committee, Rep. deGruy Kennedy has stepped up to fight for Coloradans, their families and the caucus values we all share,” she added. “Chris will make a wonderful addition to our new leadership team and I could not be happier to have him take on this important role.”
“I am humbled and excited to take on the role of Speaker Pro Tempore,” said deGruy Kennedy (D-Lakewood). “Throughout my years at the Capitol, I have taken on a variety of roles and responsibilities and I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved together for the people of Colorado. In this new role, I will have the honor of joining the most diverse leadership team in House history to help guide and support the work that lies ahead as we take on the state’s most significant challenges.”
McCluskie announced the chairs, vice chairs and committee appointments for the 11 House committees of reference, appointing six new committee chairs. Of the 22 members in committee leadership, 14 are women—a milestone that is consistent with the historic nature of Colorado having the second majority female legislature in the country.
“I’m so proud of our historic majority and all the lawmakers who are taking on leadership positions on committees,” said McCluskie.
After redistricting, State Rep. Julie McCluskie now represents House District 7. AVV file photo.
“The size of our caucus is a recognition that Democrats deliver on behalf of every Coloradan,” she added. “Our new chairs and vice chairs, alongside our historically diverse, women-led leadership team, will work hard to make life more affordable, improve health and safety in our communities, protect our air and water, and help every person live their Colorado dream.”
Last month, McCluskie was designated Speaker of the House of the 74th General Assembly by her Democratic colleagues. Rep. Monica Duran (D-Wheat Ridge), will serve as Majority Leader while Rep. Jennifer Bacon, (D-Denver), will serve as Assistant Majority Leader. Reps. Iman Jodeh (D-Aurora) and Andy Boesenecker, (D-Fort Collins) will serve as Majority Co-Whips, while Reps. Mandy Lindsay (D-Aurora) and Brianna Titone (D-Arvada) will be the Majority Co-Caucus Chairs. Committee structure, leadership and majority caucus appointments are made by the Speaker.
“I am grateful for the current chairs and outgoing members of leadership who are pursuing new ways to serve their communities in the new year; Coloradans are better off because of what they’ve accomplished with their work in the legislature,” continued McCluskie.
The complete list of Majority committee assignments is below:
Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee (9-4)
- Chair, Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont
- Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs
- Representative-Elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista
- Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango
- Representative-Elect Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie
- Representative-Elect Tammy Story, D-Conifer
- Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada
- Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs
Appropriations Committee (7-4)
- Chair, Representative Emily Sirota, D-Denver
- Vice Chair, Representative Shannon Bird, D-Westminster
- Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder
- Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins
- Representative Leslie Herod, D-Denver
- Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs
Business Affairs and Labor Committee (8-3)
- Chair, Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder
- Vice Chair, Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Regina English, D-Colorado Springs
- Representative-Elect Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood
- Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield
- Representative-Elect Javier Mabrey, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo
Education Committee (7-4)
- Chair, Representative Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango
- Vice Chair, Representative-Elect Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista
- Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial
- Representative-Elect Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs
- Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Aurora
- Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley
Energy and Environment Committee (8-3)
- Chair, Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins
- Vice Chair, Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn
- Representative-Elect Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial
- Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood
- Representative Alex Valdez, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs
- Representative-Elect Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs
- Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora
Finance Committee (7-4)
- Chair, Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs
- Vice Chair, Representative-Elect Junie Joseph, D-Boulder
- Representative Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City
- Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada
- Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood
- Representative Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins
- Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield
- Representative-Elect Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch
Health and Insurance Committee (8-3)
- Chair, Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada
- Vice Chair, Representative Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood
- Representative-Elect Sheila Lieder, D-Lakewood
- Representative Karen McCormick, D-Longmont
- Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton
- Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora
- Representative Brianna Titone, D-Arvada
- Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn
Judiciary Committee (9-4)
- Chair, Representative Mike Weissman, D-Aurora
- Vice Chair, Representative Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver
- Representative Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City
- Representative Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada
- Representative-Elect Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch
- Representative-Elect Said Sharbini, D-Brighton
- Representative Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs
- Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver
Public and Behavioral Health and Human Services Committee (8-3)
- Chair, Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Aurora
- Vice Chair, Representative Mary Young, D-Greeley
- Representative Judy Amabile, D-Boulder
- Representative-Elect Regina English, D-Colorado Springs
- Representative Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial
- Representative Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Tammy Story, D-Conifer
State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee (8-3)
- Chair, Representative Steven Woodrow, D-Denver
- Vice Chair, Representative David Ortiz, D-Littleton
- Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins
- Representative Tracey Bernett, D-Louisville
- Representative-Elect Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver
- Representative Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Said Sharbini, D-Brighton
- Representative-Elect Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn
Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee (9-4)
- Chair, Representative Meg Froelich, D-Englewood
- Vice Chair, Representative-Elect William Lindstedt, D-Broomfield
- Representative Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins
- Representative-Elect Ruby Dickson, D-Centennial
- Representative Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora
- Representative-Elect Javier Mabrey, D-Denver
- Representative-Elect Tisha Mauro, D-Pueblo
- Representative-Elect Jennifer Parenti, D-Erie
- Representative-Elect Stephanie Vigil, D-Colorado Springs
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