Dillon resident Julie McCluskie will continue to serve as the speaker of the House in Colorado, two years after being named the first woman from the Western Slope to serve in the role. 

McCluskie, who was elected to the House in 2019, ran unopposed for the position Monday.

“We are at a pivotal moment in our state’s and our nation’s history,” she said. “The challenges before us are great, whether it’s strengthening our economy, tackling climate change, protecting our rights and freedoms or ensuring that every Coloradan can thrive. There is one thing we can always count on, and that’s one another.”

McCluskie joins a short list of speakers in Colorado history to serve a second term in the role. The last to do so was Andrew Romanoff, who was speaker from 2005-09. 

The House speaker has numerous official duties, including assigning bills to committees, overseeing debate during bills’ final votes and appointing some leadership positions. Speakers also have the power to set the tone for their caucus and influence which policy ideas are successful.

The caucus also elected:

• Rep. Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge as majority leader 





• Rep. Jennifer Bacon of Denver as assistant minority leader





• Rep. Matthew Martinez of Pueblo and Rep. Iman Jodeh of Aurora as co-Whips





• Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder and Rep. Mandy Lindsay of Aurora as caucus chairs

In her tenure as speaker, McCluskie has gained a reputation as a moderate leader, overseeing significant policy gains for Democrats on issues like education, abortion and restricting access to firearms while taking flak from some of the most progressive and most conservative members of the chamber.

While addressing the caucus Monday, McCluskie vowed to continue advancing the caucus’ progressive agenda, including goals “to make Colorado more affordable, to take action against climate change and safeguard our natural resources and to protect the investments we’ve made in education.”

Her first term — when Democrats gained the widest majority in the chamber since 1930 — began with interpersonal tumult among members of the caucus. While some races from the Nov. 5 election have still not been called, McCluskie will again reign over a chamber with a significant majority for Democrats.

In 2023, House Democrats under McCluskie began limiting debate in the chamber for the first time in at least a decade. 

While at the Capitol, McCluskie has also served as the chair of the powerful Joint Budget Committee.

The state Senate also held its leadership elections Friday, choosing Sen. James Coleman as the next Senate President.

The next lawmaking session will begin in January.