State Senator Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, is resigning as of January 9, 2025. We are very grateful for her long service to the community and the state, and wish her all the best in the future.

The resignation will create a vacant seat for State Senate District 29 (SD29). Colorado law requires a vacant General Assembly seat to be filled by a pre-existing committee of the same political party, according to C.R.S. 1-12-203. 

The vacancy committee meeting and election of the replacement state senator will take place on Zoom Monday, January 6, 2025. The public will be able to view a livestream. 

Common questions:

Who can run to be the new state senator?

Any United States citizen, 25 years of age or older who has been a registered Democrat living in State Senate District 29 for at least a year beforehand. If you want to run for this seat, first use the Secretary of State's Find My Registration link to verify your district residency and the date you affiliated as a Democrat. 

Then give the Arapahoe County Democratic Party your official Notice of Intent to Run by using this form.

Who is running to be the new state senator?

  (eligible candidates will be listed here in the order notice is received)

IMAN JODEH

Who gets to vote for the new state senator?

The vacancy committee is made up of people living in State Senate District 29 who hold certain official roles in the Democratic Party. These roles are mostly elected volunteer positions. Democratic state legislators who live in this district are also members.

Can I become a vacancy committee member?

Not for this current vacancy. To keep the process as fair as possible, no new members can be added.

Can I become a vacancy committee member in the future?

Every odd-numbered year in February, each county party holds a reorganization meeting ("reorg"). Any registered Democrat can run for party positions in districts they live in. Along with the opportunity to vote in vacancy elections if needed, you'll also get to know your Democratic neighbors, help influence state and local policy, help elect your future public officials, and most importantly, preserve our American civic traditions and freedoms while helping to build the future we all deserve. 

In some cases, committee members may be elected at caucus in even-numbered years, or be appointed to fill empty positions at other times. This is not allowed after a vacancy is announced.

Arapahoe Democrats' next reorg will be Feb. 8, 2025. We'll have more information soon, but you can get an idea of what happens by reading about our 2023 reorg on this page. 

Why does Colorado use vacancy committees?

The vacancy committee method is fast, so it helps keep representation in place. This is most important when a seat is empty during the legislative session. Also, the process does not use taxpayer money, and it respects the will of the voters by finishing the term with someone who largely shares the values of the person they originally elected. 

Are there downsides to vacancy committees?

Yes. The big downside is that a very small number of people have a great deal of power. Most other voters don't even know these committees exist until suddenly there's a brief flurry of news about one. Another challenge is that committee members don't get a lot of time to hear from the new candidates. And the process can be hard on the volunteers who need to plan and run this important meeting on short notice.

What about a special election instead?

Some states use special elections to replace legislators. The positives are that public elections are a better understood process, are run by professionals, and allow far more voters to be involved. On the other hand, elections are expensive to run, and they take time to prepare, so the voters lose out on representation while waiting.

What if I want Colorado to improve or change this process?

We know a thing or two about that! Mainly: tell your state legislators what you think. A polite call or email with your ideas is good politics in action.