Colorado House Republicans elect Jarvis Caldwell as minority leader after Pugliese resignation

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics

The Colorado House Republican caucus on Saturday chose Rep. Jarvis Caldwell of Monument as its next minority leader.

Caldwell succeeds former Rep. Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, who resigned on Sept. 15.

Caldwell won 12 out of the 20 votes cast. Two other nominees – Reps. Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs and Larry Don Suckla of Cortez, both received four votes each.

The caucus meeting showed the angst over what happened in the recent special session is far from over.

Caldwell began by thanking Pugliese for her leadership.

But “we’re in a moment we may never see again,” he told the caucus.

This is a turning point in the state of Colorado, Caldwell said, with Democratic approval ratings underwater and Democrats in the House auditing each other.

That’s a reference to a recently ordered audit by House Speaker Julie McCluskie on caucus funds.

Caldwell added that the state is in a budget crisis, crime is at an all-time high, and costs are unaffordable, and then added to that is what happened to conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in Utah last week.

He said he’s been to churches and meetings with young Republicans over the last week, and they’re asking how to get involved.

The next minority leader will have to capture that momentum and bring organizations together – churches, state agencies, county GOP parties – across the state “if we want any chance” of regaining seats in the House.

Caldwell said he believes he can capture that momentum, but “I can’t do it alone. I need your help to do this.”

“Let’s move on in unity and focus on the real problem,” which is beating the Democrats in the next election cycle and getting wins on the House floor.

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