A Democratic vacancy committee has appointed state Rep. William Lindstedt to replace the late Sen. Faith Winter in the state Senate for the coming legislative session.
Earning 56 of 57 votes cast Tuesday night, Lindstedt beat one challenger to become the new representative for Senate District 25, the Colorado Democratic Party said. A House member since the 2022 election, Lindstedt had already filed to run next year for Winter’s seat, which includes parts of Broomfield and Westminster. Winter, who was killed in a car crash last month, was term-limited.
In a statement, Lindstedt said the vacancy appointment wasn’t “how I expected to enter the State Senate, and I understand the weight of this moment for so many people.” But he said he was ready to step in immediately.
“The rising cost of housing, health care, child care, utilities and everyday necessities is putting real pressure on working people, and they deserve leadership that’s focused on solutions,” he said in a news release.
Vacancy committees are composed of officials, volunteers and elected officials from the party that most recently won a legislative seat. They’re convened to replace lawmakers who leave office early, and they’ve become an increasingly common way for lawmakers to enter the legislature or to switch chambers.
Lindstedt’s move to the Senate means that another vacancy committee will now be called to replace him in the state House for the coming session, which starts Jan 14. Both Lindstedt and his House replacement will be up for reelection in November 2026.
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