Seven Representatives and eight Senators will be saying goodbye to state politics in January, when the 2024 session officially comes to a close. Some are eyeing seat in Congress, others are considering roles in local government, and some are retiring from public service altogether. Here is a list of the legislature’s departing members, what they’ve accomplished during their time in office, and their future endeavors. 

Speaker Pro Tempore Chris deGruy Kennedy, D-Lakewood

Colorado Springs native Chris deGruy Kennedy was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2016 and has served as Speaker Pro Tempore since 2022. Throughout his time in office, deGruy Kennedy has been a staunch advocate for causes like affordable housing, health care, childcare, and the environment.

During the 2024 session, deGruy Kennedy sponsored a number of successful pieces of legislation, including House Bill 1311, which creates a refundable family affordability income tax credit, and the landmark bipartisan property tax bill, Senate Bill 233. 

It is unknown what deGruy Kennedy plans to do next with his career, but his wife, Kyra deGruy Kennedy, is running for his House seat. 

Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Fort Lupton

Army veteran and retired law enforcement officer Gabe Evans was elected to the House in 2022. As a former police lieutenant, Evans has prioritized crime and public safety throughout his time in the legislature. During his two sessions at the Capitol, several of Evans’ bills were signed into law, including one that focuses on victim and survivor awareness training for judicial personnel and an interstate compact for the placement of children involved in the child welfare system.  

Evans is running for the House Congressional District 8 seat, which extends from Federal Heights and Commerce City in the south to Greeley in the north. The seat is currently held by Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo.

 Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver

Leslie Herod made history in 2016 when she was elected as the first LGBT African American in the Colorado legislature.

A progressive Democrat, Herod has focused much of her legislative career on policies concerning racial justice, LGBT rights, and criminal justice reform. Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Herod sponsored an omnibus bill, SB 217, aimed at increasing police accountability. This session, Herod sponsored a bill regulating the use of prone restraint by law enforcement; that bill will soon be signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis.

Herod has not publicly stated what she plans to do once her term ends in January. 

Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron

A self-described cowboy, Richard Holtorf is a military veteran and third-generation rancher. Appointed to the House of Representatives in 2019 following the death of Kimmi Lewis, Holtorf subsequently was elected to the seat for a full term in 2020 and after winning a contested primary ran unopposed in the general election in 2022. 

Throughout his time in the House, Holtorf has been an ardent supporter of agriculture in Colorado. He sponsored a number of successful bills concerning topics such as cannabis farming, water conservation, and creating a special Colorado agriculture license plate. 

Holtorf is running for the highly-contested Congressional District 4 seat, which encompasses most of the eastern plains. He will face high-profile Republicans including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, former state Senator Jerry Sonnenberg, and his colleague from the House, Mike Lynch, in the June primary. 

Rep. Mike Lynch, R-Wellington

Former House Minority Leader Mike Lynch made an unsuccessful bid for the state Senate in 2009 before being elected to the House over 10 years later. Lynch describes himself as an advocate for small government, and has passed legislation on policies related to agriculture, veterans’ affairs, and law enforcement.

During the 2022 session in the wake of the Marshall fire, Lynch sponsored a successful bill offering wildfire mitigation assistance to landowners. His recent bipartisan bill banning bail for those charged with first-degree murder in certain circumstances, was signed into law by the Governor in April. The bill is contingent on the adoption of a constitutional amendment, also sponsored by Lynch, slated for the ballot this November.

Like Holtorf, Lynch is running for the CD 4 seat. 

Rep. Don Wilson, R-Monument

Former mayor of Monument Don Wilson began his term in 2023. In November, 2023, he announced he would not be seeking reelection to the House and would instead be running for a a seat on the El Paso County Commission. 

Throughout his tenure in the legislature, Wilson has concentrated on legislation concerning business and veterans’ issues. He sponsored a successful bill this session that creates a licensure compact for cosmetologists, as well as one that changes certain procedural requirements for homeowners’ associations in handling delinquent payments. 

Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango

Former journalist and high school teacher Barbara McLachlan first won election to the House District 59 seat in 2016, following in the footsteps of her husband, Michael, who represented the district in the 2013-14 sessions. Education has been her central focus during her eight years as a lawmaker, and she has sponsored successful legislation to address teacher shortages, college credits for work experience, and research the impacts of Native American boarding schools in Colorado. 

McLachlan has stated that she will be retiring from public service when her term ends in January. Mike McLachlan, the state’s former solicitor general, died in June, 2021.

Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder

Senate President Steve Fenberg was elected to the Senate in 2016 and became Majority Leader two years later. In 2022, Fenberg was chosen to replace former Senator Leroy Garcia as Senate President. 

As a co-founder of New Era Colorado, a political organization for young adults, Fenberg has championed a number of bills pertaining to elections and the political process. He has also sponsored legislation addressing renewable energy and environmental issues, including a 2024 bill that imposes new fees on oil and gas producers. Fenberg also sponsored a controversial bill this session that exempts lawmakers from the Colorado Open Meetings Law.

Fenberg has not stated what he plans to do when his final term ends in January. 

Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora

Rhonda Fields first entered politics after the murder of her son, Javad, and his fiancee, Vivian Wolfe. Fields initially came to the capitol as a citizen witness testifying before committees, eventually running for the House and becoming the first Black representative from her district. Fields served in the House until 2016, after which she secured a seat in the Senate. 

Fields has championed a number of measures related to criminal justice reform, firearm-related crimes, and racial justice. She was also a fierce advocate against repealing the state’s death penalty. This session, she sponsored a successful measure to prohibit the use of cellphones while driving, except in certain circumstances. 

Fields is running for Arapahoe County Commissioner.

Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs

Veteran legislator Bob Gardner, who is also a lawyer, is known for his lengthy speeches on the Senate floor, jokingly known as “Bobbing.” Gardner was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2006, where he served for four terms before being elected to the Senate in 2016. He was elected Assistant Minority Leader in 2023. 

Gardner has sponsored hundreds of bills during his time in the legislature; this session, he sponsored a bill that imposes long-awaited regulations on the state’s funeral homes. 

In January, Gardner announced he would run for the seat currently held by retiring Congressman Doug Lamborn in the US House of Representatives but failed to make the primary ballot.

Sen. Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins

Reproductive endocrinologist Joann Ginal first entered the political arena in 2012, when she was selected by a vacancy committee to replace Rep. John Kefalas. In 2019, Ginal replaced Kefalas once again, this time in the Senate. 

Ginal has focused much of her legislative career on issues like animal welfare, LGBT rights, and healthcare. While a member of the House in 2016, she introduced a bill that would legalize medically-assisted suicide in Colorado. While the bill didn’t pass through the legislature, Proposition 106, with the same objective, was approved by voters the following November.

During the 2024 session, Ginal introduced legislation that amending certain aspects of the state’s medically-assisted suicide statute, including reducing the waiting period for patients to receive life-ending drugs and expanding the scope of medical professionals allowed to administer the medication to include advanced practice registered nurses.  

Ginal has not stated what she plans to do when her final term ends in January.

Sen. Kevin Priola, D-Henderson

Brighton native Kevin Priola spent the majority of his 16-year legislative career as a Republican before switching parties in 2022, citing the GOP’s efforts to overturn the 2020 Presidential election. 

During his tenure in the Republican caucus, Priola was considered a moderate, often splitting with the party on issues like affordable housing, LGBT rights, and immigration.

This session, Priola sponsored several bills related to treatment for substance use disorder, as well as one to reduce ozone pollution in Colorado and one providing protections for employees of transportation network companies. 

Priola has not stated what he plans to do when his final term ends in January.

Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Parker

Insurance broker Jim Smallwood was first elected to the Senate in 2016. 

His background in the insurance industry has led Smallwood to sponsor a number of health care-related initiatives, including a bill requiring actuarial reviews for any bills proposing new mandates on health insurance companies, as well as a bill that changes the requirements for a company to be considered a small employer by an insurance provider. 

Smallwood has not stated what he plans to do when his final term ends in January.

Sen. Perry Will, R- New Castle 

With over 40 years of experience as a wildlife officer, Perry Will has been one of the state’s most dedicated wildlife advocates during his six years in the legislature. 

Will sponsored the bill that created the state’s “Keep Colorado Wild” annual state parks pass, as well as one creating the Colorado River Drought Task Force and, more recently, a 2024 measure to reintroduce the wolverine to the state. That bill is slated to be signed into law by the Governor within the next several weeks. 

Earlier this year, Will announced he would not be seeking another term in the Senate, but would instead be running for a seat on the Garfield County Board of Commissioners.

Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada

Rachel Zenzinger first entered politics in 2008, when she was elected to the Arvada City Council. Three years later, she became the city’s Mayor Pro Tempore. She eventually secured a position as a campaign manager for former Senator Evie Hudak, and when Hudak resigned in 2013, Zenzinger was appointed by a vacancy committee to serve until the next election in 2014. She lost that election to Republican Laura Woods but was elected to the seat in 2016.  

As a teacher, Zenzinger has focused much of her legislative efforts on policies related to education and child welfare; she was a sponsor of this year’s school finance bill, which officially eliminated the state’s budget surplus, or “BS”, factor. Zenzinger also sponsored the 2023 bill creating the Healthy School Meals for All program, which provides free meals to students regardless of income. 

Zenzinger is running for a seat on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.