Senate Republican Leadership

Minority Leader
Paul Lundeen
(R-Monument)

Assistant Leader
Bob Gardner
(R-Colorado Springs)

Minority Chair
Jim Smallwood
(R-Parker)

Minority Whip
Cleave Simpson
(R-Alamosa)
Recent Press Releases
Senator Pelton’s Public Safety Bill Passes in the Senate
DENVER – Yesterday, Senator Byron Pelton’s bill to improve public safety and combat illegal drugs sales passed in the Senate. Senate Bill 23-109 will treat all illegal drug sales that result in a death as a Class 1 felony. Drug overdoses in the state of Colorado...
Democrats vote to limit women’s choices over bi-partisan opposition
DENVER – Today, against bi-partisan opposition, Senate Democrats passed three abortion bills through the Colorado State Senate which limit the choices of women facing difficult circumstances. Senate Bill 188 identifies a problem that it doesn’t solve and instead...
Rich’s Rural Opportunity Office Bill Passes in the Senate
DENVER– This morning Senator Janice Rich’s (R – Grand Junction) Senate Bill SB23-006, Creation of the Rural Opportunity Office, passed in the Senate. The bill will codify the Rural Opportunity Office (ROO) fully within the Office of Economic Development and...
Auto Theft Bill Passes in the Senate
DENVER – Yesterday, the Colorado State Senate unanimously passed Senator Gardner’s Senate Bill 23-097, a bill that will make all auto theft a felony regardless of the car’s value. Colorado leads the nation in auto theft. In 2022, approximately 41,225 vehicles were...
Democrats Pass Gun Control Bills Against Bipartisan Opposition
DENVER – Democrats passed three gun-control bills through the Colorado Senate today over bipartisan opposition. Senate Bill 23-168 allows for firearms industry members to be held liable in civil court for misuse of their products or services. Senate Bill 23-169 will...
Statement from Senator Kirkmeyer Regarding the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates
DENVER – Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R - Weld County) issued the following statement regarding last night’s first meeting of the Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates: “I know Colorado families are struggling with the rising costs of goods, such as eggs and...