State Sen. Paul Lundeen, one of Colorado’s highest-ranking elected Republicans, resigned Monday to take the helm of a national conservative foundation.
Lundeen, of Monument, has served as the Senate minority leader since 2022 and in the Senate since 2019. Before that, he served in the Colorado House of Representatives and on the state Board of Education.
He counted his work to rewrite the state’s public education funding formula, cut the state income tax and strengthen state laws against human trafficking among his chief accomplishments in the legislature.
Lundeen, who would be term-limited after the 2026 legislative session, is leaving to lead the American Excellence Foundation. The foundation helps steer donor investments to promote conservative public policy positions.
“Serving Colorado has been an honor and a blessing,” Lundeen said in a statement. “I am grateful to the people of Senate District 9 for the opportunity to fight for policies that empower individuals, protect our communities and promote prosperity. As I transition to a national platform, I am eager to continue advocating for personal freedom, economic opportunity, and common-sense conservative values.”
Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, thanked Lundeen for his decades of public service.
“Paul has always found ways to work across the aisle, and do what is best for the people he has served,” Polis said in a statement. “We’ve often found common ground on the issues that matter most to Coloradans, like education, public safety and growing our economy. Sen. Lundeen has spent decades in public service, in addition to his time leading small businesses, and his presence and leadership will be missed at the Capitol.”
Lundeen’s replacement will be picked through a vacancy committee. The Senate Republican caucus will meet to choose a new minority leader.
Sen. Cleave Simpson, of Alamosa, currently serves as the No. 2 Republican in the Senate.
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