Lorena Garcia Tapped To Replace Colorado State Rep. Benavidez

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

January 4, 2023

A vacancy committee selected Lorena Garcia to replace resigning Colorado state Rep. Adrienne Benavidez on Tuesday.

Garcia, a former U.S. Senate candidate, will finish Benavidez’s term representing House District 35. The term runs through 2024. The district runs along Federal Boulevard and includes parts of Federal Heights north of Denver.

Benavidez announced her resignation in December. She supported Garcia as her replacement and seconded her nomination during the vacancy committee meeting.

“It is an honor to be selected to represent HD35,” Garcia said in a statement. “I cannot wait to start working with these incredible community leaders to make sure we bring people centered policies that will support the residents of HD35 and beyond.”

Garcia currently works as the CEO of the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition. She ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 but suspended her campaign before the primary after a judge ruled she did not collect enough signatures to be on the ballot. She previously worked at various nonprofits including Namlo International, 9to5, Colorado Youth Matter and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights.

She beat out Frances Groff-Gonzales, president of the Westminster Education Association, and local entrepreneur Susan McFaddin to represent House District 35. She received 56% of the vote.

The new legislative session convenes on Jan. 9.

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