State Sen. Janet Buckner, an Aurora Democrat who stepped into the state House when her husband, John Buckner, died in 2015, told Colorado Politics she is submitting an official letter of resignation on Thursday with her resignation effective Jan. 9.

Buckner was re-elected to the Senate on Nov. 5 and ran unopposed.

Buckner said the year 2024 had been challenging. A young niece died, as did a godson and other relatives. She said that made her put things in perspective, and during the interim, she spoke to family and friends about priorities.

“For the first time in a long time, I decided to prioritize Janet.”

She addressed the 2024 election, stating it was a relief not to worry about an opponent and instead help candidates in other races. She planned to continue serving, but said those conversations with family nagged at her.

Buckner said she’s given nine years to the state; John gave three, and “that makes 12 years of service from the Buckners.”

“It was not an easy decision, but I know it’s the right one,” she said.

Janet is a native of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, just east of Cincinnati. She and John married there, spent a couple of years in Chicago, and moved to Colorado in 1975 when John was offered a teaching job in the Cherry Creek school district.

Janet was a speech and language therapist in Chicago and later at the Hope Center early childhood education facility. In those years, frequent visitors to the Buckner household included newly chosen Senate President Sen. James Coleman (D). John Buckner was his high school principal. One of her daughters is best friends with Rep. Iman Jodeh (D), the House’s first Muslim member. Janet said their house was known as the “Koolaid House” – everyone gathered there. The Buckners have a son and twin daughters and several grandchildren.

Following her appointment in 2015, she was elected to the House seat in 2016, where she served as Speaker Pro Tempore in the 2019 and 2020 sessions. She ran for the state Senate in 2020.

She served as caucus chair for the Senate Democrats in the 2023 and 2024 sessions and chaired the Senate Education Committee. Buckner has been on the education committee every year since 2015.

Buckner’s legislative accomplishments included sponsoring the CROWN Act, which prohibited discrimination based on race-related hair types and styles, and the Equal Pay For Equal Work Act, which prohibited gender pay discrepancies for employees doing the same work. Her policies have earned her endorsements from dozens of political heavyweights, including former President Barack Obama.

She’s most proud of being able to continue where John stopped, to continue his legacy, and to make a legacy of her own. “I care so much about the people of Colorado and Aurora. I’m proud of the legislation I’ve run,” which also includes universal pre-K, a student bill of rights for higher education, and legislation on maternal health. She’s also proud of serving in the House and Senate leadership.

Q&A with Sen. Janet Buckner | Senator on her past and future in the Capitol

In a 2022 Q&A with Colorado Politics, Buckner described what got her into politics, and it started with John. “He was a brilliant man. He was a lifelong educator. Every night when he came home from work, even if he had a committee until midnight, we would talk about what happened in committee. I would listen to many of his committees because he was chair of education. So, that just got to be a habit. I never thought I would be in politics – never.”

But when John died, her phone started ringing off the hook. “Here I am grieving, can’t believe my husband died, and people are asking me to take his place.”

At first, she said no, but the calls grew, from influential people in Colorado and across the country, who told her she would be a perfect fit. She sat down with her son and a yellow legal pad and wrote down the pros and the cons. “The pros list kept getting longer and longer and longer, and I decided I’m going to do it. And it was the best thing I could have done.”

One of the bills she carried in the 2019 session was something her husband had planned to carry: Senate Bill 19-059, which was named for John Buckner and which allows the automatic enrollment of certain students in advanced courses through a state-funded grant program.

She’s also sponsored numerous bills on health issues and criminal justice. In 2024, that included the law banning the term “excited delirium” by law enforcement personnel, emergency medical service providers, or other first responders. That’s tied to the death of Aurora’s Elijah McClain in 2019.

Several lawmakers reached out to Colorado Politics to express their support and appreciation for Buckner.

Sen. Perry Will also won’t be returning to the Capitol in January; the New Castle Republican was elected Garfield County commissioner on Nov. 5. “I really enjoyed working with Sen. Buckner. I can’t remember why but we called each other ‘cuz.’’ She’s a sweet lady. We didn’t always agree but she always did what she thought was right,” he said.

“Happy retirement, cuz.”

Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer bonded with Buckner over their passion for education. When the legislature last session finally fully funded education after years of shortchanging students, Buckner praised the Brighton Republican, calling Kirkmeyer “fearless.”

“I will miss my friend, Sen. Buckner,” Kirkmeyer said. “She has been a thoughtful and consistent supporter of education and children. She is simply irreplaceable.”

Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, won’t be returning to the Capitol as she is term-limited. She told Colorado Politics “Janet has been my role model on how to be gracious, kind and bipartisan. She’s been a really good friend; we can talk about everything. We both lost our husbands, who were friends. We have a lot in common and it’s been a joy to work with her on the education committee” that McLachlan chaired in the House. Buckner served as vice-chair during her time in the House. 

What does the future hold? Janet’s planning to develop and mentor young leaders in Aurora. “My experience and age give me much to offer young people who want to get into politics.” She also wants to uplift and advocate for teachers.

There are also some family and travel plans in there. That includes a trip to Paris and other European destinations, spending time with grandchildren, and visiting relatives she hasn’t seen in a while.

Buckner’s final words on the subject: “John would be proud, but he’d say, ‘Janet it’s time, job well done.'”

A vacancy committee will appoint a successor. 

This story is developing and will be updated.