State House Democrats elected its slate of leaders for the 2025 session on Monday.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie of Dillon, who is entering her fourth and final term, will serve as the nominee for another term as Speaker. McCluskie was elected by acclimation.

McCluskie was nominated by Rep. Emily Sirota of Denver, with a second from Rep. Matthew Martinez of Monte Vista.

The full House must ratify that decision when it convenes on Jan. 8.

Outgoing Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy of Lakewood conducted the speaker’s election. He told the new members that they are in the same position he was in eight years ago, when there was barely time to celebrate because of President-elect Donald Trump’s election. But the work of state legislatures is more important than ever, he told the caucus.

Current House Majority Leader Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge won another term. She was nominated by Rep. Javier Mabrey of Denver, with a second from Rep. Meghan Lukens of Steamboat Springs. Duran was elected by acclimation. She is also entering her fourth and final term in the House.

Duran addressed the 2024 election and the toxic environment in the House, most notable in the 2023 session. Two Democratic members resigned before the year ended, citing the environment as a factor.

“It increasingly falls on us to protect our citizens’ rights and their freedoms,” she told the caucus. While they have a lot to be proud of, including one of the most diverse caucuses in history, she said it is also a time to grapple with the challenges they will face with Trump back in the White House. State Houses across the country will play a key role in protecting the nation’s democracy as well as revitalizing it, she added.

As to the House’s environment, Duran said they came up short on the team dynamic in the last two years, and primary voters noticed it, too. “They sent a strong message that we all need to work together…We are a team and cannot accept any members fostering a toxic environment.”

The battle for Assistant Majority Leader was one contested race that failed to materialize. That had been expected to be between Rep. Jennifer Bacon of Denver, who currently holds that seat, and Rep. Andrew Boesenecker of Fort Collins.

A letter sent by 200 members of the Black community on Sunday protested the challenge, pointing out that Bacon was the only Black House member in leadership.

Boesenecker wrote his House colleagues shortly before the election that he was withdrawing for the good of the caucus. “The dynamics of division in the House leadership elections have been resoundingly rejected in the rest of the country. We should take notice,” he wrote.

Boesenecker claimed he had support from the majority of the caucus but was withdrawing “to rise above the actions of those who wish to divide instead of unite us. The time for pitting our caucus against ourselves must be over. While withdrawing from this race, let me be clear: our caucus will continue to require leadership that seeks to heal divisions, not amplify them.”

Bacon was nominated by Rep. Elisabeth Velasco of Glenwood Springs, with a second by Rep. Brianne Titone of Arvada. Bacon was elected by acclimation.

Martinez was nominated to be one of two majority co-whips, a nomination made by Duran, and seconded by Rep. William Lindstedt of Broomfield. The other co-whip is Rep. Iman Jodeh of Aurora, who currently holds that position. She was nominated by Mabrey, with a second from Lukens. Both were elected by acclimation.

Titone nominated caucus co-chairs: current co-chair Rep. Mandy Lindsay of Aurora and Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder, who will replace Titone. Rep. Karen McCormick of Longmont seconded Lindsay’s nomination. Rep. Sheila Leider of Littleton seconded Joseph’s nomination. Both caucus co-chairs were elected by acclimation.

Among those attending Monday’s election, which was conducted via Zoom, were Rep. Stephanie Vigil of Colorado Springs and Jillaire McMillan of Longmont, both of whom are in contested House races that have not yet been decided. As of Monday’s meeting, Republican Rebecca Keltie was leading Vigil by 21 votes, the closest race in the state. Former Republican Rep. Dan Woog of Erie was leading McMillan by 207 votes.

Should those two seats go to Republicans, House Democrats would lose their supermajority, dropping to 43 seats while Republicans would have 22. One other seat held by a Democrat, Rep. Mary Young of Greeley, conceded her HD50 race to Republican Ryan Gonzalez over the weekend.