DENVER (KDVR) — On Saturday, the Colorado House Republican Caucus elected a new House Minority Leader, and on Monday, a vacancy committee named a replacement representative for the seat recently vacated by the previous House Minority Leader.
Last week, then-Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese announced she was stepping down from office to spend more time with her two children. Her move comes shortly after Rep. Ryan Armagost, who was also House Minority Whip, announced he was vacating his seat and moving to Arizona to serve on the board of a Second Amendment advocacy organization.
The House Republican Caucus elected Rep. Jarvis Caldwell, who represents House District 20, to serve as House Minority Leader for the upcoming legislative session. The House GOP shared that in his remarks, Caldwell said Colorado is at “a breaking point” and said that Coloradans deserve better.
Caldwell is a father of two, and the GOP said he emphasized prosperity for Colorado, so that “the next generation inherits a state stronger than the one we have today,” according to a press release shared by the House Republicans. The release said that Caldwell called on Democrats to come to the table to deliver real solutions and that he highlighted the state’s budget growth since 2019.
“I will fight to restore Colorado to a prosperous state where families are safe, communities are strong, and government is accountable to the people we are elected to represent,” Caldwell said in the House GOP release.
Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter, Caucus Chair Anthony Hartsook and Caucus Whip Carlos Barron released a statement about Caldwell’s election.
“Representative Caldwell is a strong leader who will unite our caucus and champion the issues that matter most to Coloradans,” said Winter, Hartsook and Barron in their shared statement. “His vision and dedication will help guide us through the challenges ahead as we work together to protect families, strengthen communities, and restore affordability across Colorado. We look forward to serving alongside him as we fight for a stronger future for our state.”
The seat for House District 14, vacated by Pugliese, will be held by Ava Flanell after she was elected by the vacancy committee.
“I want to congratulate Ava Flanell on being chosen to represent the people of House District 14,” said House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell in a GOP release. “Ava is a small business owner, firearms instructor, and grassroots leader who has been a strong voice for protecting our Second Amendment rights. She will work tirelessly for the families of El Paso County and be a dedicated partner in our caucus.”
Caldwell also thanked Pugliese for her service and leadership in the Colorado General Assembly.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
