This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at .
The top Republican in the Colorado Senate announced Monday that he is resigning from the legislature to take a job in the private sector.
Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, is resigning effective Monday.
鈥淪erving Colorado has been an honor and blessing,鈥� Lundeen said in a written statement. 鈥淚 am grateful to the people of Senate District 9 for the opportunity to fight for policies that empower individuals, protect our communities, and promote prosperity. As I transition to a national platform, I am eager to continue advocating for personal freedom, economic opportunity and common-sense conservative values.鈥�
Lundeen said his new job is as the president and CEO of the American Excellence Foundation, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., but that has a national footprint. Lundeen said he will remain in Colorado as he enters the role.
Lundeen has served as minority leader since 2022. His current term ends in early 2027. He is term-limited and couldn鈥檛 seek reelection in 2026.
Before entering the legislature in 2017 as a state representative, Lundeen was a member of the State Board of Education.
In a recent interview with CPR News, when asked to confirm how long he鈥檇 been in the statehouse, he joked, 鈥渢oo long.鈥�
鈥淚've just completed my seventh session in the Senate. So what is that, 15 years on both sides of Colfax?鈥� he said.
Senate President James Coleman said he鈥檒l miss Lundeen. The Denver Democrat said he learned a lot from Lundeen about the legislative process, as well as how to be a good policymaker and leader.
Coleman said Lundeen was a good communicator, and helped ensure that the chamber ran smoothly and led by example.
鈥淗e had a lot of grace and patience,鈥� Coleman said. 鈥淚 think those things are signs of an individual who seeks to understand. He really wanted to better understand everybody regardless of their backgrounds, their culture, their geographical location in the state as a legislator 鈥� do that effectively and not compromise his values.鈥�
Republicans have been in the minority during Lundeen鈥檚 tenure as GOP leader. The last time the GOP controlled the gavel in the Senate was 2018.
The Senate Republican caucus will meet Thursday evening to select a new leader.
State Sen. Byron Pelton, a Sterling Republican and the Senate GOP caucus chair, said he鈥檚 not sure who may run to replace Lundeen as minority leader.
State Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, currently the Senate assistant minority leader, said his initial reaction to the news that Lundeen was leaving was 鈥済ood for him.鈥� Pelton also said he appreciated how Lundeen fought for funding for K-12 schools.
鈥淚 would describe him as a very unselfish leader, making sure that all of our voices were heard as a caucus."
A Republican vacancy committee will be convened to select Lundeen鈥檚 replacement.
Lundeen鈥檚 replacement next year who at some point were appointed to the House or Senate by or through a vacancy committee. That means that more than 1 in 5 state lawmakers in Colorado owe their legislative careers, either in whole or in part, to the vacancy process.
Lundeen鈥檚 name was in the mix as a possible 2026 gubernatorial candidate. His new job, however, likely ends that speculation.
