November 29, 2016 01:34 PM UTC

Morgan Carroll Runs For Colorado Democratic Party Chair

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• by: Colorado Pols

As the Denver Post’s Mark Matthews reports, Colorado Democratic Party chairman Rick Palacio announced today that he will not seek another term, creating an opening for one of the most important jobs on the left side of the aisle in our state:

Rick Palacio, the chair of Colorado’s Democratic party, announced in an email Tuesday that he won’t seek re-election to the position he’s held for six years.

With a “new year also comes new beginnings, so I’m reaching out to you to let you know that when our party reorganizes this spring, I will begin a new adventure and I won’t be seeking re-election as your party chair,” he wrote.

Palacio did not specify in the email what he plans to do next, and in a follow-up phone call declined to say what’s ahead for him. But he said he wants state Sen. Morgan Carroll, who lost a bid this year to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, to take his place.

What we’ve heard is that Sen. Morgan Carroll is in, and is busy as we write consolidating support among the party faithful. Carroll may not be the only candidate to throw her hat in, with the last unsuccessful challenger to Palacio, Dave Sabados, and Bennet for Colorado outreach director Lily Griego both rumored to be interested. With that said, Carroll is certainly the biggest name in the mix, and her years of experience as a legislative candidate make her a highly qualified choice–perhaps enough to clear the field entirely.

We’re sure to have more updates as the party chair election gets closer, so stay tuned.