Joe Salazar Explained

Joe Salazar
State House:Colorado
District:31st
Term Start:January 2013
Term End:January 4, 2019
Predecessor:Judith Anne Solano
Successor:Yadira Caraveo
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Jessica Salazar
Birth Name:Joseph Anthony Salazar

Joseph Anthony Salazar (born 1971/72) is an American attorney and politician. A Democrat, Salazar served as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. In 2018, Salazar ran for Colorado Attorney General, but lost the primary to eventual victor Phil Weiser by a margin of less than one percent of the vote.[1]

Currently, he is the director of Colorado Rising, an anti-fracking pressure group. A supporter of Bernie Sanders, Salazar is considered a member of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Salazar was raised in Thornton, Colorado. Salazar states that the Spanish side of his family first came to the region in the 16th or early 17th century.[2] Salazar stated that both of his grandmothers were of Apache origin, and that both of his grandparents were of Spanish descent.[3] He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver.

Legal career

Salazar previously worked as an attorney with Smith, Shelton, Ragona and Salazar, LLC. He focused on employment law, civil rights, and constitutional law.[4]

Political career

Colorado House of Representatives

Salazar was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in the 2012 election, and served in the chamber until 2019. During his time in the legislature, Salazar’s pushed to end the practice of high schools using mascots offensive to Native Americans.[5] Salazar introduced legislation to repeal Columbus Day's status as a state holiday, stating that "Columbus’ legacy of abuse and disrespect is still readily apparent today."[6]

During his tenure, Salazar supported freedom of information legislation that caps charges for filing Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests to four times the state's minimum wage.[7] Salazar was noted for being among a small number of lawmakers in Colorado who supported Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign in the 2016 Democratic primary.[8]

2018 Colorado Attorney general candidacy

Following speculation of a potential gubernatorial candidacy,[9] Salazar instead ran for Colorado Attorney General in the 2018 election. In the Democratic primary, Salazar faced Phil Weiser, the former dean of the University of Colorado Law School. Salazar's campaign received the support of Bernie Sanders and affiliated organization Our Revolution.[10] [11] He ultimately lost by a margin of 50.43% to 49.57%.[12] [1]

Post-2018 career

After losing the 2018 election, Salazar became director of Colorado Rising, an anti-fracking advocacy group.

In January 2021, Salazar expressed interest in challenging incumbent Senator Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary in the 2022 U.S. Senate election.[13] However, he announced in 2021 that he would not run for U.S. Senate, nor contest the newly created Colorado's 8th congressional district.[14]

In November 2021, Salazar filed papers to run for Colorado's 24th Senate district. At the time of Salazar's announcement, the district was represented by Democrat Faith Winter. However, due to redistricting, Winter's residence would be in the 25th District, leaving the new district open. The newly created district includes Thornton and Federal Heights and parts of unincorporated Adams County to the northeast of these two municipalities.[15] However, Salazar chose to drop out of the contest in February 2022.[16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 24, 2018 . CO Attorney General - D Primary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190203112440/https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=834794 . 2019-02-03 . June 22, 2021 . Our Campaigns.
  2. Web site: Paul . Jesse . 2018-05-30 . Five things to know about state Rep. Joe Salazar, one of two Democratic candidates for Colorado attorney general . 2023-04-02 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  3. Web site: Houska . Tara . 2019-01-14 . House Representative in Colorado Wants Columbus Day Gone, Opposition Fights to Keep It . 2023-04-02 . Indian Country Today.
  4. News: Moriki . Darin . 7 November 2012 . Salazar Secures House Seat . ourThorntonnews.com . dead . 20 November 2013 . https://archive.today/20131120012826/http://www.ourcoloradonews.com/thornton/news/salazar-secures-house-seat/article_4ce38239-0535-5f7a-b8cd-5c3fd0201c69.html . 20 November 2013.
  5. Web site: SENTINEL . THE . 2014-12-04 . EDITORIAL: Time to use the Legislature to end Native American school mascot slurs . 2023-04-02 . Sentinel Colorado . en-US.
  6. Web site: Luning . Ernest . Joe Salazar introduces legislation to repeal Columbus Day as a state holiday in Colorado . 2023-04-02 . Colorado Politics . en.
  7. Web site: Roberts . Jeffrey A. . 2014-02-19 . Amended CORA fees bill sets cap for filling requests at four times minimum wage . 2023-04-02 . Colorado FOIC.
  8. Web site: Hutchins . Corey . 2016-07-14 . Heal the Bern? Yes and no for Colorado Sanders delegates after Clinton endorsement . 2023-04-02 . The Colorado Independent . en-US .
  9. Web site: Goodland . Marianne . 2017-03-11 . Rep. Joe Salazar rules out run for governor for a shot at attorney general . 2023-04-02 . The Colorado Independent . en-US.
  10. Web site: Luning . Ernest . Democrat Joe Salazar endorsed by Bernie Sanders-aligned Our Revolution group for attorney general . 2023-04-02 . Colorado Politics . en.
  11. Web site: Luning . Ernest . Bernie Sanders endorses Joe Salazar in Democratic attorney general's race . 2023-04-02 . Colorado Politics . en.
  12. News: Bunch . Joey . 2018-06-30 . PRIMARY 2018: State Rep. Joe Salazar concedes attorney general nomination to Phil Weiser . Colorado Politics . 2018-07-01.
  13. Web site: Luning . Ernest . January 23, 2021 . 'This is a Bernie state': Joe Salazar considering run against Bennet in 2022 Democratic primary . The Colorado Springs Gazette.
  14. Web site: Luning . Ernest . 2021-11-05 . Democrat Joe Salazar files to run for state Senate in open Adams County district . 2023-04-02 . Colorado Springs Gazette . en.
  15. News: Luning . Ernest . November 5, 2021 . Democrat Joe Salazar files to run for state Senate in open Adams County district . Colorado Politics . November 5, 2021.
  16. Web site: 2022-02-14 . State Senate Updates: Salazar Out, Giron In . 2023-04-02 . Colorado Pols . en-US.