The representation of African-Americans in the Colorado  legislature surged last week, including the first time that two African-Americans were elected to the state Senate in the same election, according to the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus of Colorado.

Both new senators are women who last session served in the House: Angela Williams of Denver and Rhonda Fields of Aurora.

In addition, the 65-member House will have six black members when the session starts  Jan. 11: Reps.elect Janet Buckner of Aurora, James Coleman of Denver, Leslie Herod of Denver, Tony Exum of Colorado Springs, Dominique Jackson of Aurora and Jovan Melton of Aurora.

All of the black legislators are Democrats.

Coleman, Herod and Jackson are starting their first terms.  Exum returns to the House after losing his re-election in 2014 to bounce back and defeat Republican Kit Roupe last week. Buckner is starting her first full term, after replacing her late husband,  John Buckner, last year.

There were no African-Americans  in  the state Senate last year and four in the House, including Williams and Fields.

With eight of the state’s 100 legislators,  that outpaces African-Americans’  representatioin in the state’s population, 4.4 percent.

“There could not be a prouder moment as we take our place in history again with eight African-American elected officials representing constituents across Colorado,” said Williams, chairwoman of Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.