Jessie Danielson

On January 12, 2014, incumbent State Representative Sue Schafer opted out of seeking a fourth term.[2] On January 21, 2014, Danielson announced her candidacy in a press release.[3]

On January 12, 2014, local Edgewater City Councilmember and Democrat Kristian Teegardin filed his candidacy for the seat.[4] Danielson's filing created a primary race for the Democratic nomination. To qualify for the primary ballot in Colorado, candidates are required to win at least 30% of the vote of seated delegates at nominating assemblies held by political parties. At the March 29, 2014 Democratic assembly, Danielson received 58 out of 99 votes cast (or 58.6%), with Teegardin winning the rest; meaning both candidates qualified for the Democratic primary ballot.[5] Danielson, with the most votes, won "top line" on the primary ballot.

The Democratic primary was held as an all mail-in ballot election ending at 7:00 P.M. on June 24, 2014. Danielson defeated Teegardin, thereby becoming the Democratic nominee for the November 4, 2014 general election.[6]

Having won the Democratic Party primary, Danielson faced Republican Joe DeMott—who was unopposed in the Republican Party primary—on the 2014 general election ballot. Danielson went on to win this election, which ended on November 4, 2014.[7]

Danielson ran for a second two-year term in the 2016 general election. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Republicans nominated Joy Bowman as the Republican candidate for the general election during their nominating assembly. Bowman later withdrew from the race, and the Republican HD-24 vacancy committee appointed Danielson's 2014 opponent, Joe DeMott, to fill the Republican vacancy on the 2016 general election ballot.

Danielson defeated DeMott in the 2016 election, winning a second term.[8]

On May 24, 2017, Danielson filed her candidacy for the Colorado State Senate, District 20, instead of running for a third term in the State House. Incumbent Senator Cheri Jahn was prohibited from running again by term limits. Danielson was unopposed in the 2018 Democratic primary for Senate District 20.

With Republicans holding a one-seat majority in the State Senate, the district was one of five competitive seats in the Colorado State Senate election that were watched closely around the country as Democrats worked to "flip" the chamber to Democratic control.[9] Danielson went on to win her race, which ended on November 6, 2018.[10]

In the 2018 general election, Danielson faced Republican Christine Jensen and Libertarian Charles Messick, winning a term in the state senate by eight points.

After the 2014 general election, Colorado's 70th General Assembly convened on January 7, 2015, at which time Danielson was sworn in. The new Speaker of the House, Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, appointed Danielson to the following committees:[11]

• Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
• Public Health Care & Human Services
• Local Government

After the 2016 general election, Colorado's 71st General Assembly convened on January 11, 2017, at which time Danielson was sworn in. The new Speaker of the House, Crisanta Duran, appointed Danielson Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and to three of its committees:[12]

• Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
• Public Health Care & Human Services (Vice Chair)
• Appropriations

After the 2018 general election, Colorado's 72nd General Assembly convened on January 4, 2019, at which time Danielson was sworn in as State Senator for Colorado's District 20. Democrats controlled the majority of seats. Danielson was appointed to two committees:[13]

• Agriculture & Natural Resources (Vice Chair)
• Business, Labor & Technology (Vice Chair)

During the 2019 Regular Session, Danielson's successful passage of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act was a notable victory,[14] as was legislation criminalizing the abandonment and confinement of the at-risk and elderly.[15]