By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
Dan Woog doesn’t hesitate when asked which hit was harder — one on the ice as a hockey player or one in politics as an elected official.
“Hockey taught me resilience,” said Woog, a former collegiate athlete from Minnesota and the newly-elected House District 19 state representative. “As an athlete, you never quit. You practice, work hard and learn to work with people you might not always agree with.”
These lessons prepared him for the highs and lows of his political journey, including his 2022 re-election loss.
Hockey, Woog explained, also instilled a drive to persevere through setbacks: “I just believe in the will,” he said. “If we have the will and never give up, great things can happen.”
That drive brought Woog back to the capitol this year, representing Weld and Boulder Counties.
Woog was a freshman lawmaker during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022). He now values the lessons he learned.
“It was really hard to get that rapport and get to know [fellow lawmakers],” Woog said, describing the difficulties of building connections in a socially-distanced legislature. “We actually had plexiglass dividers between our desks, and I took mine down and got reprimanded for that.”
For Woog, the measures — hockey glass at his desk — while necessary to some, added an extra layer of separation at a time when collaboration was already strained.
The fast-paced nature of legislative sessions added another challenge, especially for a newcomer. Woog recalled the whirlwind of adjusting to the capitol’s demands, saying, “When you first get in there, you almost feel like a chicken with your head cut off. It’s definitely busy.”
Despite these hurdles, Woog found opportunities for growth. Over time, he was able to foster stronger connections with colleagues, even those with differing political views.
“By the end of my term, having a little more rapport with people. It got a little more cordial and I think there were some friendships made,” he said.
Losing the 2022 race was a pivotal moment for Woog. It taught him to listen more and bridge the ideological gaps within his district, Woog says.
“I feel like that loss did more for me than anything could. It taught me to be more of a listener, especially in a district with two very different counties,” he said.
He credits the experience with making him a better legislator and more focused on bipartisan solutions.
Woog bridges cultural and political divides in a district spanning Boulder and Weld Counties by focusing on shared values to foster meaningful conversations.
“I love Weld County’s fiscal responsibility, but I need to listen to Boulder County’s concerns,” Woog said.
He believes balancing these perspectives has made him a better legislator. The counties bring different strengths and challenges to the district, and Woog said there are also important similarities between them.
“A lot of families are working really hard just to get by in this expensive state, so there’s a lot of similarity that way,” he said.
Both counties value environmental sustainability, though their approaches to energy policies often differ: “We all care about the environment. We want clean air so we and our kids can thrive and be healthy,” he said.
However, he noted the political and economic differences that influence local priorities.
“Boulder County tends to have more Democrats and Weld County is a little more conservative,” he says.
Despite these contrasts, Woog believes in finding common ground through active listening.
“If I do a very good job of listening, it seems like there’s a better dialogue between us,” he said.
When he’s not at the capitol or meeting with constituents, Woog enjoys supporting local businesses in his district. In Frederick, he recommends Gabe’s Café for breakfast: “I love Gabe’s Café in downtown Frederick,” he said. “They have good service and really good food.” In Erie, he’s a fan of Birdhouse: “They have really good street tacos with fried chicken and really good queso,” he said.
As a real estate professional, Woog understands the challenges of Colorado’s housing market. He supports a bill to address liability issues in condominium construction, which he hopes will increase the availability of affordable starter homes.
“Affordable housing is a huge issue. My kids, once they’re out of school, wouldn’t be able to afford a home here. This bill could help change that,” he said.
For Woog, the goal is to remove barriers for builders: “This isn’t about government subsidies. It’s about removing barriers for builders,” he explained.
Public safety is another cornerstone of Woog’s legislative agenda. He co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Shannon Bird to address limited capacity in juvenile detention facilities.
“Judges have to release someone to make room for a new juvenile offender, even if they haven’t gone through any reform or served their sentence,” Woog said.
He believes boosting the number of juvenile detention beds is a straightforward way to keep communities safer: “It’s not the most exciting bill, but it’s practical and necessary,” he said.
Woog has also focused on reducing fees he believes unfairly burden Colorado families. With HB25-1051 and HB25-1074, both of which he co-sponsored, he’s giving a “cross check” to the hated recycled paper 10-cent per-bag fee and revising egg-laying hen standards to promote practical, cost-saving changes for Coloradans.
He also plans to introduce legislation to eliminate delivery fees on goods like Amazon orders.
“Democrats have been using taxes to generate revenue. Now they have a way around that, and that’s by adding fees to everything,” he said. “It nickel-and-dimes people to death. We need to save money anywhere we can.”
For Woog, grassroots engagement is critical to shaping better policies.
“The people are the ones who should be running the government,” he said.
He encourages Coloradans to attend local meetings or testify at the Capitol: “It would be so helpful if people would come testify. That involvement can truly influence laws,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Woog remains grounded.
“At the end of the day, we’re all there to do what’s best for our constituents,” he said.
This former hockey player knows one thing — the game has just begun.