The sounds of jazz and flamenco music fought to be heard over the sound of well-wishers’ conversations at El Chingon restaurant in Denver Thursday evening as hundreds gathered to celebrate state Rep. Crisanta Duran’s, D-Denver, birthday.

Several members of the state House including Reps. Alex Garnett, D-Denver, Steve Lebsock, D-Thornton and Angela Williams, D-Denver attended the celebration. Also making an appearance was former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

During the event, Duran raised funds for both her leadership and campaign funds. She will be running for reelection in House District 5 in 2016.

Currently Duran serves as Majority Leader for the House Democrats, with Speaker Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder. Duran is a likely future candidate for Speaker of the House.

“She and I made history this year by being sworn in as the speaker and the majority leader, the first female leadership team in the history of the Colorado Legislature,” Hullinghorst said during her remarks at Thursday’s event. “We’re both very proud of that. It should have happened earlier and it should continue to happen for a very long time”

During her brief remarks Duran spoke about her accomplishments over the last year, including working for the passage of the workforce development package.

“I also focused heavily on working on economic development issues in those areas of the state that are struggling the most – those with the highest unemployment, the lowest wages,” she said. “As we move forward in Colorado, the economy gets better, we want to make sure that we have a Colorado economy that works for all and not just those at the top. And I think a way that we’ll be able to get there is to look at the high cost of housing in the state, to look at the high cost of childcare. To make sure that every Coloradan has access to economic stability and is able to provide for themselves and for their families.”

Hullinghorst told the crowd that Duran has worked tirelessly for job creation, education and affordable housing.

“Everything that’s a good Democratic value, Crisanta has been right in the middle,” she said.

“It was a great evening, with lots of support for the 2016 election,” Duran told The Colorado Statesman. “I’m just overwhelmed and thankful to so many people that were able to attend tonight to be able to continue to work with them and just humbled to have so much support in the community. I hope everyone enjoyed the evening and I feel so humbled to have so much support.”

– rachel@coloradostatesman.com