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Colorado House Democrats on Friday elected the first all-female top leadership team in state history.
Rep. Dickey Lee Hullinghorst of Boulder was elected by her caucus to serve as the powerful speaker, a post she will officially take over when the legislature convenes Jan. 7. Rep. Crisanta Duran was elected as the majority leader.
Never before have women held both the top post in the chamber and the position of majority leader.
Hullinghorst, who has served as majority leader for the past two years, was the lone candidate for the speaker’s post, now held by Democrat Mark Ferrandino, who is term-limited. In her speech, she referred to the Senate, where Republicans have won the majority by one seat.
“There are those who look at a split chamber as a huge challenge,” she said. “I prefer to look at this as an opportunity.”
Democrats so far have a 34-31 majority in the House, but they are awaiting final vote tallies for an Adams County seat they are losing.
Rep. Dominick Moreno of Commerce City was elected assistant majority leader, Rep. Angela Williams as caucus chair and Rep. Su Ryden as whip.
Republican Lola Spradley served as the first female speaker of the House, in the 2003 and 2004 sessions.
At one time, Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver, was challenging Hullinghorst for speaker. He then switched to the majority leader’s race but lost to Williams.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels
