Paul Lundeen of Monument was elected minority leader of the state Senate’s Republican caucus for the new legislative session, which will again (sigh) be ruled by the Democrat Overlords of All They Survey.
Also elected to help lead the GOP caucus and serve as loyal opposition to Democrats are state Sens. Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs, assistant minority leader, Barbara Kirkmeyer from Weld County, minority whip, and Jim Smallwood of Parker, caucus chair.
All hail the survivors of the 2022 Red Wave Hype!
Kirkmeyer, who just finished a valiant effort at taking the new congressional seat in the 8th District, was not up for reelection for her state Senate seat.
“I am grateful for the confidence my colleagues have vested in me to lead this caucus,” Lundeen said in a statement.
“There is ample work that must be done. Colorado remains unaffordable, our schools continue to fail, and crime is continuing to climb. I am eager to introduce our solutions that will address these problems and bring some relief to the People of Colorado, Lundeen said.”
Colorado Politics reports from the caucus leadership elections:
The caucus of 12 is made up of 10 men and two women and has a handful of new members. Those include Janice Rich of Grand Junction; Rod Pelton of Cheyenne Wells and his cousin Bryon Pelton of Sterling; and Mark Baisley of Woodland Park. Sen. Kevin Van Winkle of Highlands Ranch also is new to the caucus; he was chosen by a vacancy committee to finish out the remainder of Holbert’s and was elected to his first Senate term on Tuesday.
Today, the Colorado Senate Republicans elected new caucus leadership.
Senator Paul Lundeen (Monument) has been elected Minority Leader.#COPolitics #COleg pic.twitter.com/WTu2fRrDTn
— Colorado Senate Republicans (@ColoSenGOP) November 10, 2022