Colorado Rep. Lindsey Daugherty to run for state Senate

Democratic state Rep. Lindsey Daugherty is running to replace outgoing state Sen. Rachel Zenzinger when her term comes to an end.

Daugherty, of Arvada, joins Westminster City Council member Obi Ezeadi, also a Democrat, in the race to represent Senate District 19, which includes parts of Arvada and Westminster. Zenzinger will be term-limited. The district favors Democrats by about 9 percentage points, according to a redistricting analysis of recent elections.

Other lawmakers have also announced their candidacy for seats currently represented by term-limited senators, including Reps. Cathy Kipp, Judy Amabile, Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Mike Weissman.

Daugherty has represented House District 24 in the Legislature since 2021. She is an attorney who works in juvenile and family law.

“I’m eager to apply my experience & expertise to make an even greater impact in the Senate,” she wrote in announcing her Senate candidacy. “I have a proven record of turning aspirations into accomplishments, and you can trust me to bring that same dedication to the Colorado State Senate.”

In the House, Daugherty chairs the Health and Insurance Committee and sits on the Finance and Judiciary committees.

In the most recent session, she successfully ran a bipartisan bill to expand post-conviction DNA testing for people in the justice system and another bill to increase medical price transparency.

Daugherty already has nearly 30 endorsements from current lawmakers, including Senate President Steve Fenberg, House Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran.

Ezeadi has 13 endorsements from current lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tem James Coleman, Sen. Janet Buckner and Rep. Brianna Titone.

Zenzinger has not endorsed either.

Daugherty and Ezeadi are the only two candidates running for the Senate seat so far. Neither have reported raising or spending any money on their campaigns so far.