Robert Rodriguez elected Colorado Senate majority leader — the chamber’s No. 2 job

Denver Democrat Robert Rodriguez is the new majority leader of the Colorado Senate, elected by his colleagues Friday to the chamber’s No. 2 role. 

Rodriguez, who was the Senate’s assistant majority leader, takes over for Sen. Dominick Moreno, who announced his resignation from the legislature and his job as majority leader last month to take a job in Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration. 

In his new position, Rodriguez will have the power to determine who sits on Senate committees and will manage the Senate’s day-to-day calendar. He ranks second in the chamber, which is controlled by a near-supermajority of Democrats, only to Senate President Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat. 

Rodriguez was first elected to the Senate in 2018 and was reelected last year to a second four-year term, which ends in January 2027. Fenberg is term-limited once his current term ends in January 2025, setting up Rodriguez to run for president once Fenberg departs.

“I will be here for you and will strive to make the goals of the caucus my priority,” Rodriguez said before the vote was taken at the Capitol by the Senate Democratic caucus.

Before being elected to the legislature, Rodriguez was director of business management at Independence House, an organization founded by his father to help criminal offenders reenter society. He was also vice chair of the Denver Democratic Party.

Rodriguez beat out Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, who was nominated by Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora.

Democratic Sen. Faith Winter, of Westminster, planned to run for majority leader but wasn’t nominated Friday. In fact, Winter nominated Rodriguez for the job.

The vote count was not announced and members of the Senate Democratic caucus cast their ballots confidentially.

There are 23 Democrats in the Senate and 12 Republicans. The legislature reconvenes in January for its 2024 lawmaking term, which lasts 120 days.

This is a developing story that will be updated.