Alamosa senator picked as new Colorado Senate Minority Leader
DENVER (KDVR) — On Thursday, the Colorado Senate Republican Caucus elected a new Senate Minority Leader after the resignation of Paul Lundeen earlier this week.
Lundeen left the position effective Monday to take on the role of president and CEO of the American Excellence Foundation, a national investment nonprofit that supports conservative causes.
Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen resigns to take national position
On Thursday, Senate Republicans elected Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa to replace Lundeen. According to his biography on the Colorado Senate Republicans website, Simpson serves as the general manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and was elected to Colorado's 6th Senate District in 2024 and 2020.
'I'm honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to lead the Senate Republican Caucus,' Senator Simpson said in a Colorado Senate Republican Caucus release. 'I want to thank Senator Paul Lundeen for his years of steadfast leadership and principled service to this caucus and to the people of Colorado. His guidance has strengthened our team and helped lay the foundation for the work ahead. Coloradans are facing real challenges: rising costs, public safety concerns, and a growing sense that their voices aren't being heard at the Capitol. During this interim and going into next year's session, this caucus will remain committed to standing up for hardworking families and offering real, common-sense solutions. I'm proud to lead this dedicated team as we fight for a stronger, safer, and more affordable Colorado.'
The caucus also elected Sen. Lisa Frizell, of Castle Rock, to be the next Assistant Senate Minority Leader. Frizell was elected as Douglas County Assessor in 2014 and 2018, and was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022 where she represented Colorado's 42nd House District.
In 2024, she was elected to represent Colorado's 2nd Senate district.
'I am deeply honored to serve the Republican Caucus as Assistant Minority Leader,' Frizell said in the caucus' release. 'It's time for our caucus to begin a new chapter, and I believe that by working together and with intention our future is a bright one.'
The Senate Minority Caucus Chair will remain Byron Pelton, of Sterling; the Senate Minority Whip will remain Janice Rich, of Grand Junction; and Barbara Kirkmeyer of Weld County will remain a Joint Budget Committee Member.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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