Jessie Danielson | |
|---|---|
.jpg) State Senator Jessie Danielson in 2025 | |
| Member of theColorado Senate from the22nd district | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Member of theColorado Senate from the20th district | |
| In office January 4, 2019 – January 9, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Cheri Jahn |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Speaker pro tempore of theColorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 11, 2017 – January 4, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Dan Pabon |
| Succeeded by | Janet Buckner |
| Member of theColorado House of Representatives from the 24th district | |
| In office January 7, 2015 – January 4, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sue Schafer |
| Succeeded by | Monica Duran |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 or 1978 (age 47–48) Greeley, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Andrew |
| Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) |
| Website | Official website |
Jessie Danielson (born 1977/1978)[1] is an American politician from theState of Colorado. She is an elected member of theColorado State Senate representingDistrict 22 after being redistricted fromDistrict 20. Previously, she served in theColorado House of Representatives representing District 24 inJefferson County. ADemocrat, Danielson was first elected in theNovember 4, 2014 general election.
She was redistricted to the22nd district in the2022 Colorado Senate election, succeedingBrittany Pettersen.
Danielson is a resident of Wheat Ridge. She was born inGreeley and was raised on her family's farm nearAult, graduating fromHighland High School. She is a graduate of theUniversity of Colorado Boulder. Her work experience includesAmerica Votes working on election strategy and public policy,NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado as Political Director, and anindependent living center that assists thedisabled in living independently.[2]
Danielson is a former chair of the board of directors forEmerge Colorado and a former board member of both NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado andProgressNow Colorado.[2] She has served as a gubernatorial appointee on both the Colorado Commission on Aging and the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Commission.
On January 12, 2014, incumbent State RepresentativeSue Schafer opted out of seeking a fourth term.[3] On January 21, 2014, Danielson announced her candidacy in a press release.[4]
On January 12, 2014, local Edgewater City Councilmember and Democrat Kristian Teegardin filed his candidacy for the seat.[5] Danielson's filing created aprimary race for the Democratic nomination. To qualify for the primaryballot inColorado, candidates are required to win at least 30% of the vote of seated delegates at nominating assemblies held by political parties. At the March 29, 2014 Democratic assembly, Danielson received 58 out of 99 votes cast (or 58.6%), with Teegardin winning the rest; meaning both candidates qualified for the Democratic primary ballot.[6] Danielson, with the most votes, won "top line" on the primary ballot.
The Democratic primary was held as anall mail-in ballot election ending at 7:00 P.M. on June 24, 2014. Danielson defeated Teegardin, thereby becoming the Democratic nominee for the November 4, 2014 general election.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jessie Danielson | 2,797 | 56.26% | +12.52 | |
| Democratic | Kristian Teegardin | 2,175 | 43.74% | −12.52 | |
Having won the Democratic Party primary, Danielson faced Republican Joe DeMott—who was unopposed in theRepublican Party primary—on the2014 general election ballot. Danielson went on to win this election, which ended on November 4, 2014.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jessie Danielson | 17,501 | 53.38% | +6.76 | |
| Republican | Joe DeMott | 15,286 | 46.62% | −6.76 | |
Danielson ran for a second two-year term in the2016 general election. She was unopposed in the Democratic primary election. Republicans nominated Joy Bowman as the Republican candidate for the general election during their nominating assembly. Bowman later withdrew from the race, and the Republican HD-24 vacancy committee appointed Danielson's 2014 opponent, Joe DeMott, to fill the Republican vacancy on the 2016 general election ballot.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jessie Danielson | 24,103 | 56.99% | +13.98 | |
| Republican | Joe DeMott | 18,191 | 43.01% | −13.98 | |
Danielson defeated DeMott in the 2016 election, winning a second term.[9]
On May 24, 2017, Danielson filed her candidacy for theColorado State Senate, District 20, instead of running for a third term in the State House. Incumbent SenatorCheri Jahn was prohibited from running again by term limits. Danielson was unopposed in the 2018 Democratic primary for Senate District 20.
With Republicans holding a one-seat majority in the State Senate, the district was one of five competitive seats in theColorado State Senate election that were watched closely around the country as Democrats worked to "flip" the chamber to Democratic control.[10] Danielson went on to win her race, which ended on November 6, 2018.[11]
In the2018 general election, Danielson faced Republican Christine Jensen andLibertarian Charles Messick, winning a term in the state senate by eight points.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jessie Danielson | 49,980 | 54.13% | ||
| Republican | Christine Jensen | 39,113 | 42.36% | ||
| Libertarian | Charles Messick | 3,239 | 3.51% | ||
On July 15, 2025, Danielson announced her candidacy forSecretary of State of Colorado in the 2026 election.[12]
The bicameralColorado General Assembly meets each January for a 120-day regular session.
After the 2014 general election, Colorado's 70th General Assembly convened on January 7, 2015, at which time Danielson was sworn in. The newSpeaker of the House,Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, appointed Danielson to the following committees:[13]
After the 2016 general election, Colorado's 71st General Assembly convened on January 11, 2017, at which time Danielson was sworn in. The new Speaker of the House,Crisanta Duran, appointed DanielsonSpeaker Pro Tempore of the House and to three of its committees:[14]
After the 2018 general election, Colorado's 72nd General Assembly convened on January 4, 2019, at which time Danielson was sworn in as State Senator for Colorado's District 20. Democrats controlled the majority of seats. Danielson was appointed to two committees:[15]
During the 2019 Regular Session, Danielson's successful passage of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act was a notable victory,[16] as was legislation criminalizing the abandonment and confinement of the at-risk and elderly.[17]
During the 2021 session, Danielson was appointed to serve on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology Committee.[18][19]
In 2022, Danielson prime sponsored a bill that created a new state office to help coordinate investigations into crimes committed againstIndigenous people.[20][21]
Danielson was appointed to serve on the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology committee.[22] In 2023, Danielson prime sponsored a bill that increased the minimum age for an individual to purchase a firearm to 21.[23][24]
In 2024, Danielson prime sponsored a concurrent resolution that would have created a ballot initiative that, if passed, would have changed the civil statute of limitations for childhood sex abuse cases.[25][26] The resolution did not pass.[27]
Danielson currently serves as the chair of the Senate Business, Labor, and Technology committee. In 2025, Danielson Prime sponsored the Labor Peace Act, which aimed to simplify the process for unions to mandate that all employees at a company contribute fees for collective bargaining representation.[28]
| Colorado House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker pro tempore of theColorado House of Representatives 2017–2019 | Succeeded by |