Colorado Senate Democrats Pick Stephen Fenberg To Be Next Chamber President

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

February 9, 2022

Colorado state Senate Democrats named Stephen Fenberg president of the chamber during a caucus vote on Wednesday, shuffling leadership as current Senate President Leroy Garcia prepares to move on to a new job in Washington, D.C.

Fenberg, the current majority leader who represents Boulder, is poised to take over as Senate President later this month. He still needs a majority vote of the Senate for official approval.

“There is a responsibility that clearly falls in the realm of the presidency that the majority leader doesn’t have as much. I see that as not only being the leader of the caucus but someone to protect the institution of the Senate. I think we’ve learned a lot about what that looks like from President Garcia. I take that role, and I will take that role, incredibly seriously,” Fenberg said during Wednesday’s meeting.

He took time to praise Garcia’s leadership and pledged to make decisions for the health of the caucus, not for his own ambitions.

“I promise to continue to learn and evolve as a leader, to strive to be more inclusive and to better embrace shared decision-making,” he said.

The president presides over daily work on the Senate floor and decides things like when bills can be introduced.

Fenberg was nominated by Sen. Janet Buckner and was the only candidate put forward. Sen. Kerry Donovan also declared her intent to run for the position but was absent on Wednesday due to a death in the family, her colleagues said.

He will replace outgoing Senate President Leroy Garcia, a Pueblo Democrat, who is leaving on Feb. 23 to take a job with the Department of Defense.

Fenberg has been the Senate majority leader since 2019, so the switch-up also created a vacancy for that position. The caucus voted by voice Sen. Dominick Moreno of Commerce City, nominated by Sen. Brittany Pettersen, to be the next majority leader.

“What I promise this caucus is that I will still spend every minute that I have looking for ways to make improvements, to make us stronger and better as a caucus. That is my commitment to you, even if it means I fall asleep re-reading the rules every night,” he said.

Moreno then nominated Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada to replace him on the Joint Budget Committee, which is still working to shape the state budget. The caucus also voted her in by voice.

“There are a lot of balls in the air. Things are moving fast, and I’m happy to be of service during this period of transition and I look forward to crafting the budget along with my colleagues that will serve the best interest of Colorado,” she said.

Democratic House leadership praised the selections.

“Having served with Senators Moreno and Zenzinger on the Joint Budget Committee as they helped lead Colorado through the pandemic, I know their strong leadership will be a big asset to the Senate and our state. This team knows how to deliver results for Colorado that will save people money and boost working families across the state!” House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar said in a statement.

Fenberg, Moreno and Zenzinger will be in their new positions until at least the end of the year.

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