December 10, 2013 03:37 PM UTC

SD-19 Vacancy Committee Discussion Thread

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #3: More statements via the Colorado Senate Majority Office:

“Congratulations to Rachel Zenzinger!  Despite recent challenges, we are united toward building a stronger Colorado in a bipartisan way,” said Pres. Pro Tempore Lucia Guzman. 

“We are pleased to welcome Rachel Zenzinger to the Colorado Senate.  Rachel will diligently serve a diverse district on the issues that are most important to the district.  I have the utmost confidence that she will be fair, collaborative, and deliberate when representing the people of her community,” said Pres.-elect Morgan Carroll. 

Incoming Sen. Rachel Zenzinger:

“I thank the members of the vacancy committee for the effort they invested in this difficult process to select a successor to Sen. Evie Hudak, and I look forward to justifying their faith in me.  Thank you to all my supporters who gave me so much encouragement during the last two weeks, and thanks especially to Sara Gagliardi for giving the vacancy committee such a strong option.  Now we have to move forward, and I am eager to get to work on the tough issues facing our state, including economic development, job creation, education, transportation and healthcare.”

Former Rep. Sara Gagliardi, who lost the vacancy election by a respectable 39-27 margin:

“I want to thank my friends, family and others who have supported me in the past two weeks.  While I am disappointed not to return to the State Legislature where I have served Colorado, I have confidence in tonight's choice, Rachel Zenzinger, and I will continue my work in healthcare and on the labor front!”

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UPDATE #2: Statement from Colorado Democratic Party chairman Rick Palacio:

“I am proud to have Rachel Zenzinger serve as the next State Senator for District 19,” Palacio said.
 
 “Rachel Zenzinger has a history of being a pragmatic leader who works across party lines to get things done for her community, and I’m confident that she will represent the people of Westminster and Arvada well,”
 
 “In addition, I’m hopeful that Colorado’s Republicans will put partisanship aside, and commit to working with Rachel Zenzinger and our Democratic majority to tackle the issues important to Colorado families and small businesses.”

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UPDATE: Arvada City Councilwoman Rachel Zenzinger wins on the first ballot.

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FOX 31's Eli Stokols, tonight's the night:

A group of 73 Democratic activists will vote Tuesday night on a successor for former Sen. Evie Hudak, who resigned last month in order to avoid a potential recall election and to keep the seat — and the state Senate itself — in Democratic control through November.

The panel will choose between two candidates: former state Rep. Sara Gagliardi and Rachel Zenzinger, a member of the Arvada City Council.

The choice for Democrats on the vacancy committee is somewhat similar to those Republicans have faced in so many recent primary fights: a question of one candidate who appeals more to the party’s base and another who may have more appeal come general election time.

We'll update this evening with results and more. Stay tuned.