Joe 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]

Joe Salazar
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 31st district
In office
January 2013 – January 4, 2019
Preceded byJudith Anne Solano
Succeeded byYadira Caraveo
Personal details
Born
Joseph Anthony Salazar

1971 or 1972 (age 51–52)
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseJessica Salazar
EducationUniversity of Colorado, Boulder (BA)
University of Denver (JD)

Currently, he is the director of Colorado Rising, an anti-fracking pressure group.[2] A supporter of Bernie Sanders, Salazar is considered a member of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.[3]

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.[4] Salazar stated that both of his grandmothers were of Apache origin, and that both of his grandparents were of Spanish descent.[5] He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver.

Salazar previously worked as an attorney with Smith, Shelton, Ragona and Salazar, LLC. He focused on employment law, civil rights, and constitutional law.[6]

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.[7] 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."[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

2018 Colorado Attorney general candidacy

Following speculation of a potential gubernatorial candidacy,[11] 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.[12][13] He ultimately lost by a margin of 50.43% to 49.57%.[14][15]

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Phil Weiser 298,048 50.43
Democratic Joe Salazar 292,912 49.57
Total votes 590,960 100.0

Post-2018 career

After losing the 2018 election, Salazar became director of Colorado Rising, an anti-fracking advocacy group.[2]

In January 2021, Salazar expressed interest in challenging incumbent Senator Michael Bennet in the Democratic primary in the 2022 U.S. Senate election.[3] However, he announced in 2021 that he would not run for U.S. Senate, nor contest the newly-created Colorado's 8th congressional district.[16]

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.[2] However, Salazar chose to drop out of the contest in February 2022.[17]

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