DENVER – Colorado state Senate Minority Leader Lucia Guzman has stepped down from her post leading the Democrats in her caucus with less than six weeks to go in her final legislative session.

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Leroy Garcia was elected in her place by the Democratic caucus Thursday morning shortly before the start of the Senate’s daily business. Guzman, who is term limited, will now be assistant minority leader.

In announcing her decision, Guzman cited the ongoing sexual harassment controversy in the state Senate and an inability to work with the Senate’s Republican leadership over the sexual harassment issue.

“It’s a 100 percent profound sentiment for the victims,” she told reporters. “Justice always overcomes injustice. This isn’t a win for them. It’s a win for us.”

Guzman said she could no longer lead the Democratic caucus “because I can no longer work with the leadership across the aisle.”

The tipping point for Guzman was on Monday when Democratic state Sen. Daniel Kagan of Cherry Hills Village was accused of using an unmarked Senate restroom that is reserved for women. Kagan said it happened just once, but Senate President Kevin Grantham, R-Cañon City ,told reporters Monday that Kagan had done so “habitually.”

Later that day, Republican Sen. Beth Martinez Humenik of Thornton filed a complaint against Kagan. That complaint’s contents are confidential, but Senate Republicans have so far not been able to point to any alleged inappropriate behavior by Kagan other than using the restroom itself.

Kagan admits he was in the bathroom when Martinez Humenik came in and he left, embarrassed. He had no comment about Guzman’s decision.

Martinez Humenik is running for re-election in November in what’s expected to be the hottest Senate race in the state and one that could determine control of the state Senate.

Her Democratic opponent is Rep. Faith Winter of Westminster, whose initial allegations of sexual harassment against former Rep. Steve Lebsock led to an investigation that resulted in Lebsock’s expulsion on March 2.

Guzman told reporters this morning that she hasn’t spoken with the Republican leaders in some time.

But she said stepping down is not just about sexual harassment. “It’s about good leadership. Good leaders who are coming to the end of their term should make it possible” for others to step up, she said. “Leadership isn’t just staying to the bitter end. It’s about being a symbol.”

Garcia, a Pueblo Democrat and a former Marine, now steps in for Guzman, whose shoes he said will be big ones to fill. Garcia said the opportunity exists to change things.

“There’s no greater friend or worst enemy than a Marine,” he said. “…I look forward with new tenacity to move our priorities forward, and that includes calling out Senate Republicans on their missteps.”

Justice needs to be served and that will happen, he pledged.

The vote for a new minority leader was not without its own controversy. State Sen. Rhonda Fields of Aurora was the lone “no” vote, both for Garcia’s election as minority leader and Guzman’s election as assistant minority leader. Fields declined to provide a reason for her opposition other than saying, “It’s personal.”

Senate Democrats have for nearly three weeks conducted a daily reminder to fellow lawmakers that they’ve asked for a resolution of expulsion regarding Republican Sen. Randy Baumgardner of Hot Sulphur Springs.

An accusation against Baumgardner for repeatedly slapping the buttocks of a legislative aide in 2016 was found credible by a third-party investigator. Baumgardner denied the allegation, but chose to resign as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and offered to take the sensitivity training that is required of all lawmakers.

He has two more allegations of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment pending against him.

Under the Senate’s rules, the expulsion resolution must be introduced by April 12.

After the allegation against Kagan became public, Guzman said in a Monday statement that “[t]here is absolutely no equivalence to Sen. Baumgardner using his position of power to repeatedly, physically harass a legislative aide. This accusation is a shameful attempt by Republicans to distract from very real incidents of sexual harassment at the Capitol.”

The bigger message in this, Garcia said Thursday, is the inability of Republicans to move forward and seek resolution on a matter so important, both for the Capitol and for Coloradans. “People want justice for wrongs that have been done.”

“She can have her reasons for stepping down. I won’t speak to that,” Grantham told reporters. “It’s been an honor to work with her in that position.”

Grantham and Guzman both entered the General Assembly in the 2011 session.

Grantham also said he was disappointed when Guzman withdrew from the Senate leadership’s sexual harassment process a month ago. “We needed her wisdom and input…I will miss her in that role.”

As for Garcia, Grantham called him capable and that they would enjoy working with him for the rest of the session and into the interim.

Guzman, a pastor from Denver, was elected to the Senate in 2010. She is the leader of the legislature’s LGBTQ caucus, among other roles on top legislative initiatives.