Republican state legislator from Berthoud resigning for new job in Arizona

Republican state Rep. Ryan Armagost will resign from the legislature later this summer in pursuit of a job opportunity out of state.

Armagost, of Berthoud, was midway through his second term in the House, where he was last year elected to serve as the chamber’s minority whip. He will resign effective Sept. 1 and move to Arizona in pursuit of a “significant job offer, a meaningful personal relationship in the state, and the chance to expand his work in Second Amendment advocacy,” according to a Monday statement.

During his stint in the legislature, Armagost’s work focused on criminal justice policy, and he was a vocal opponent of Democratic efforts to pass gun control. He also led the unsuccessful effort to impeach Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

“Serving you has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Armagost wrote to the constituents of House District 64, which is nestled between Longmont, Greeley and Loveland. “I’m proud of what we’ve done together, and I leave confident that the spirit of liberty in this district will only grow stronger.”