Colorado Democrats had a positive reaction Saturday when former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez was elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Colorado state party chairman Rick  Palacio  lost his bid to be the DNC’s vice chairman, however.

Palacio lost  in a crowded field to New York City Assemblyman Michael Blake. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, another New Yorker, won the other vice chair position.

In nominating Palacio, Wisconsin state party chairwoman Martha Laning noted Palacio was the only state party leader in the race and one of only two candidates (out of nine) who wasn’t from the East Coast.

“Our party is about more than the states on the East Coast,” she said.

Another Palacio nominator, Earl Fowlkes, leader of the party’s LGBT Caucus, credited Palacio for Democratic wins in Colorado for Hillary Clinton and re-electing Sen. Michael Bennet in November, as well as expanding the party’s majority in the state House “with the most diverse Democratic caucus in state history.”

Palacio, of course, was a class act in defeat.

Palacio, who is gay, wore a pink tie in solidarity with transgender people, citing President Trump’s decision last week to remove federal protections for transgender students to choose the rest room or locker room that matches their gender identity.

He vowed that the protests against Trump in the states would continue, because Democrats’ resolve is strong.

“I know what it takes to win tough elections,” he told the Democrats at the winter meeting in Atlanta before the vote.

“It takes more than data and analytics. It takes people. Winning takes more than engaging our communities two months before an election. It takes talking to people year-round. Winning doesn’t happen from the top down.”

The reaction from Colorado reaction Saturday night was mostly in support of Perez as chairman.

Lucia Guzman of Denver, the Democratic leader in the state Senate, issued a congratulatory statement Saturday:

“I want to offer my warmest congratulations to Secretary Perez for his election as the new Chair of the Democratic Party, and my best wishes to him as he works to lead a united Democratic Party. His background in fighting for blue collar workers, protecting civil rights, and unifying people makes for the type of leader we need right now as the Democratic Party looks to the future. As a fellow child of immigrants, I am also confident Secretary Perez will engage with communities of color at the grassroots, and make sure their voices are heard not just in election years, but every single day.

“I would also like to congratulate Congressman Ellison for his efforts, and for being named as Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee. I know that under the leadership of Chairman Perez and Deputy Chair Ellison, the Democratic Party will be in good hands as it reorganizes, retools, and looks to 2018 and beyond.

“With the elections for the new DNC chair complete, I now look forward to the election of our new State Party Chair. I firmly believe that our best days are ahead for the hardworking people of Colorado.”

And an old tweet from Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez reminded me that Perez was in Colorado a week before the election last November.