Sen. Bob Rankin announced Thursday he intends to resign from the state Senate, effective the day after the 2023 legislative session begins.

Rankin, R-Carbondale, was first elected to the Colorado House in 2012 to serve House District 57, which covers northwestern Colorado, until Jan. 2019. 

A vacancy committee for Senate District 8 appointed Rankin on Jan. 3, 2019 to finish out the term of Sen. Randy Baumgardner, R-Hot Sulphur Springs, who resigned after Democrats took control of the state Senate. Baumgardner faced sexual harassment accusations in the 2018 legislative session but survived an expulsion vote in the then-Republican controlled Senate.

Rankin beat back a strong challenge in the 2020 general election and would have been up for re-election to his second and final term in 2024.

Rankin has been the senior member of the Joint Budget Committee. He was first appointed to the committee in 2014. 

 “After proudly serving this state for the past 10 years, I have made the decision to move forward with the next chapter of my life,” Rankin said in a news release sent out Thursday by the Senate GOP caucus.

“We are all incredibly grateful for Senator Rankin’s service to this state,” said Minority Leader John Cooke, R-Greeley. “His grit, integrity, and honesty is something every member of the General Assembly can aspire to. During his tenure, Bob championed responsible conservative fiscal policy to the benefit of every Colorado taxpayer. His commitment to this state and the people of Colorado will always be was cherished. We wish Bob all the best in the next chapter of his life.”

Rankin is married to Joyce Rankin, who represents the 3rd Congressional District on the Colorado Board of Education. 

He was born in Mississippi and earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University. An Army veteran, he has worked as an engineer for Ford Aerospace as well as founding the technology consulting firm Aspen Cybercare LLC.

Gov. Jared Polis, in a statement Thursday, said: “Senator Rankin’s commitment to bipartisanship and fiscal responsibility is a model for all of us, and his steady hand on the Joint Budget Committee will be missed. I enjoyed working with Senator Rankin to help rural communities, cut red tape, save people money on healthcare with reinsurance, provide the biggest property tax cut for property owners and small businesses in recent memory, invest in education, and to strengthen search and rescue capacity. Colorado thanks him for his public service.”

Speaker-designee Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, served on the JBC with Rankin, and said Thursday “ror 10 years, Senator Rankin has exemplified the very best of what it means to be a public servant. His dedication and steadfast commitment to always putting Coloradans and good public policy ahead of politics has made our state a better place for everyone. His efforts to craft bipartisan solutions and find common ground are a model, not only for our legislature, but for lawmakers across the country. It has been a privilege to serve with Senator Rankin, and I will miss his leadership, expertise and the abundance of kindness he brings to the Capitol everyday.

Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, also served on JBC with Rankin. “For the last decade, Senator Rankin has handled his duties as a legislator and a member of the Joint Budget Committee with a level of integrity and commitment that we should all aim to meet,” Moreno said. “Throughout his career at the Capitol, Senator Rankin has prioritized solutions over partisanship, and has been a crucial leader in pursuing a more perfect Colorado. Working alongside Senator Rankin has been a privilege that I will greatly miss, but I could not be happier for my friend and wish him all the best as he moves on to his next adventure.”

Rankin’s replacement will be chosen by a Republican vacancy committee.