Vicki Marble

Term limited as a state senator, in 2020 Marble decided to run for the open District 49 seat in the Colorado House of Representatives. However, in the Republican primary election held June 30, 2020, she was defeated by challenger Mike Lynch.[2]

In 2016, incumbent Marble ran for reelection to the Colorado State Senate for Senate District 23. She was unopposed in the Republican primary,[3] as was her Democratic opponent T.J. Cole.[4] Marble will be term-limited in 2020 but able to run for another term in 2024.

In the November General Election, Marble faced Democrat T.J. Cole, winning the election with 57.96% of the vote.

In 2012, Marble ran for election to the Colorado State Senate for Senate District 23. Her candidacy was endorsed by former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, Ken Buck, Dick Morris, State Senator Tim Neville, former Senator Dave Schultheis, and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.[6][7]

Marble defeated former State Rep. Glen Vaad for the Republican primary nomination.

In the November General Election, Marble faced Democrat Lee Kemp, winning the election with 56.20% of the vote.[9]

Senator Marble served as the Senate Minority Caucus Chair and was a member of the Veteran's and Military Affairs Committee and was a member of the Legislative Council Committee.

In 2018, Senator Marble served as Senate Majority Caucus Chair, as the Chairman of the Senate State Veteran's and Military Affairs Committee and as a member of the Agriculture and the Legislative Council Committees.

She was the prime sponsor of a wide variety of legislation, including agriculture-related bills such as Senate Bill 239, concerning animal chiropractors,[11] and Senate Bill 205, concerning the regulation of industrial hemp.[12] Another bill, Senate Bill 230, modified language in statute concerning "pooling orders" for oil and gas drilling and expanded protections for property owners.[13] She also sponsored a bill to update the election code, and another that deals with regulation of toxicology labs. Each of these and more, were signed into law by the Governor.

On August 21, 2013, at an Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force meeting at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver chaired by State Sen. John Kefalas, Marble ignited controversy and Democratic criticism when she gave a speech that included extensive comments on the eating habits of various minority groups.[14][15]

"When you look at life expectancy, there are problems in the black race: sickle-cell anemia is something that comes up, diabetes is something that’s prevalent in the genetic makeup and you just can’t help it," Marble said. "Although I’ve got to say, I’ve never had better BBQ and better chicken and ate better in my life than when you go down south and you — I love it."[16]

Further, Marble commented that "Mexicans eat vegetables in Mexico but stop eating healthily when they immigrate to the United States."

Fellow state legislator Rhonda Fields, an African-American and Democrat from Aurora, Colorado was also present, and criticized Marble's comments.

"The title for this committee is the Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force; and one of the things I will not tolerate is racist and insensitive comments about African Americans, the color of their skin. You mentioned what we eat — I was highly offended by your remarks," Fields said, addressing Marble directly.[16]

Marble then released a statement clarifying her remarks:

"My comments were not meant to be disparaging to any community," she said. "I am saddened they were taken in that regard. I take my responsibility seriously and I hope our work on this committee will offer real solutions to the health and financial challenges of our vulnerable populations."

The Denver Post editorial board described Marble's comments as, "... finger-lickin' stupid."[17]

In comments to the press, Ryan Call, former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party distanced the party from Marble's comments. "Sen. Marble's careless comments do not reflect the views of Republicans," he said.[18] A prominent pro-Republican and conservative political blog, Colorado Peak Politics, said, "Marble is the latest legislator to join what might be kindly dubbed the "legislative moron caucus" after an ignorant and offensive soliloquy about race and diet."[19]

In an interview with the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Marble remained "unapologetic".[20]