State Sen. Chris Hansen likely to resign as he joins southwestern Colorado electric cooperative

Sen. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat, watches Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis speak on the Colorado Senate floor on Aug. 29, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

State Sen. Chris Hansen will serve as the new CEO of the La Plata Electric Association, the cooperative announced Tuesday.

That means the Denver Democrat will likely resign from his Senate seat. He won reelection last week with over 85% of the vote. He did not face a primary challenger earlier this year.

"Representing Senate District 31 is the privilege of a lifetime, and I am confident that my experience in the Capitol will guide me well in this next chapter in my career. Over the coming weeks, I remain committed to serving my constituents and district, and I will be working through the details of the remainder of my time in the Senate," he said in a statement.

Hansen serves on the Appropriations Committee, Joint Technology Committee, Committee on Legal Services, Legislative Council, Finance Committee and the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. He also chairs the Commission on Property Tax and sponsored a major property tax bill from the 2024 regular legislative session.

He was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2016. He was then appointed to his Senate seat in January 2020 and won election to that seat in November 2020.

Hansen's replacement will be chosen by a vacancy committee comprising about 120 Democrats in his district, which includes Capitol Hill, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, Congress Park and Lowry.

The Legislature will reconvene in early January.