Alec Garnett Explained

Alec Garnett
Office1:61st Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
Term Start1:January 13, 2021
Term End1:January 9, 2023
Predecessor1:KC Becker
Successor1:Julie McCluskie
Office2:Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
Term Start2:January 4, 2019
Term End2:January 13, 2021
Predecessor2:KC Becker
Successor2:Daneya Esgar
State House3:Colorado
District3:2nd
Term Start3:January 7, 2015
Term End3:January 9, 2023
Predecessor3:Mark Ferrandino
Successor3:Steven Woodrow (redistricting)
Party:Democratic
Education:College of Wooster (BA)
University of Colorado, Denver (MPA)

Alec Garnett is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives and the former Speaker of the House. He represented District 2, which covered a portion of the city of Denver. He was first elected in 2014 to replace retiring House Speaker Mark Ferrandino. In November 2020, Garnett's colleagues elected him to serve as speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives for the two-year term beginning in January 2021.[1] Due to Colorado House term limits, which state a Representative can serve no more than four consecutive terms limiting each member to 8 years of service.[2] Garnett has since been appointed as Governor Polis's Chief of Staff, replacing Lisa Kaufmann.

Career

Prior to taking office, Garnett was the executive director of the Colorado Democratic Party. He previously worked as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter and legislative director to U.S. Representative John Adler.[3] In 2010 Garnett managed the political campaign of his father, who ran for Colorado attorney general that year.[4]

Garnett was elected to his seat in 2014 with 72.6% of the vote against Republican Party opponent Jon Roberts. He was reelected in 2016 with 73.28% of the vote against Republican opponent Paul Linton.[5] He was unopposed in 2018[6] and, in 2020, Garnett was reelected with 80.6% of the vote against Republican Victoria Partridge.[7]

Garnett served on the House Appropriations Committee, the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee, and the House Education Committee.[8] After becoming a member of House leadership he served on the General Assembly's executive committee and Legislative Council committee.

Garnett was elected speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives on November 5, 2020.[9]

After leaving the Colorado General Assembly on January 1, 2023, Garnett became Gov. Jared Polis' chief of staff.[10]

Personal life

Garnett's father, Stan, is the former district attorney for Boulder County, Colorado.[11]

Garnett is married to Emily Renwick Garnett. They have three children and live in Denver, Colorado. Emily is an attorney at Brownstein.[12]

References

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Notes and References

  1. News: Miller . Faith . 2020-11-06 . Colorado Democrats elect Garnett as House speaker . Montrose Press . 2020-11-08.
  2. Web site: Colorado General Assembly Overview | Colorado General Assembly .
  3. News: Lee. Kurtis. Alec Garnett to run for House District 2 seat being vacated by Speaker Ferrandino. July 8, 2017. Denver Post. February 5, 2013.
  4. News: CU Denver alumnus a rising star in Colorado politics . 10 August 2023 . CU Denver News . University of Colorado at Denver . 28 September 2015.
  5. Web site: Alec Garnett. Ballotpedia. July 8, 2017.
  6. Web site: 2018 General Election . Boulder County Elections . Boulder County . 10 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Alec Garnett . Ballotpedia . 10 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Representative Alec Garnett. Colorado General Assembly. July 8, 2017.
  9. News: Miller . Faith . Colorado Democrats elect Garnett as House speaker . 10 August 2023 . Colorado Newsline . States Newsroom . 5 November 2020.
  10. News: Goodland . Marianne . Gov. Jared Polis names House Speaker Alec Garnett as new chief of staff . 10 August 2023 . Colorado Politics . 14 November 2022.
  11. Web site: Boulder. 7 March 2024 .
  12. Web site: Emily R. Garnett.