Colorado Senate Democrats choose leaders and budget committee members
The caucus selected James Coleman to continue as Senate president and chose five other leaders, along with Mike Amabile and Emily Sirota for the Joint Budget Committee.
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Colorado Senate Democrats selected James Coleman to continue as Senate president and chose their leadership team for the 76th General Assembly at a Nov. 5 caucus meeting. The caucus also selected Mike Amabile and Emily Sirota as its two members of the Joint Budget Committee, which helps develop the state budget, during the meeting.
The caucus chose Dylan Roberts as majority leader, Kyle Mullica as president pro tempore, Katie Wallace as assistant majority leader, Senator Judah as caucus whip and Janice Marchman as caucus chair.
Coleman, Judah and Marchman were elected by acclamation. Members chose Roberts, Mullica and Wallace in contested secret-ballot elections. Amabile won a majority in the first round for a budget committee seat. After further ballots eliminated Adrienne Benavidez, Sirota won the remaining seat over Matt Ball.
Leadership candidates emphasized fair opportunities for members’ bills, clearer communication and stronger committee and floor processes. Amabile emphasized people-first priorities and the Legislature’s role in appropriations; Sirota stressed transparency and explaining budget trade-offs. Candidates also discussed Medicaid costs and potential spending and revenue choices, but the caucus made no budget or spending decisions at the meeting.