Adrienne Benavidez (born 1953/1954) is a former Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives. She represented District 32, which covered a portion of Adams County. She was elected in 2016, succeeding Dominick Moreno. Prior to taking office, Benavidez worked as an attorney, was the executive director of the Denver Department of General Services, and directed the Colorado Division of Finance and Procurement. She served as chairwoman of the Rules Committee of the

Colorado Democratic Party The Colorado Democratic Party is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the U.S. state of Colorado. Morgan Carroll serves as its chair. The governing body of the party is the State Central Committee, which consists of the chair and vice chair ...

. Benavidez served on the House Finance Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, and the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee.

Colorado House of Representatives

Benavidez was elected to the House of Representatives in 2016, winning 64.37% of the vote against

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

opponent Alexander Jacobson. During her tenure in the state House, Benavidez sponsored successful legislation that addressed toxic air pollutants as well as reforms to the state tax code. Her legacy legislation repealed the death penalty in the state of Colorado, replaced Columbus Day with Frances Xavier Cabrini Day and prohibited the use of Native American mascots in public schools. She is a staunch advocate for Latino issues in Colorado and supported Latino candidates for office as part of her outreach for her community. In December 2022, just weeks after she was re-elected to a fourth term in the Colorado House, Benavidez announced she would resign from the house on January 5, 2023, four days before the beginning of the new General Assembly session. Her announcement followed her loss to Julie McCluskie in the race for house speaker.

References

21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians American women lawyers American lawyers Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Colorado Living people Lawyers from Denver Politicians from Denver University of Colorado Boulder alumni Women state legislators in Colorado Year of birth missing (living people) {{Colorado-politician-stub