Kerry Donovan

Kerry Elizabeth Donovan (born 1978/1979)[1] is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 5th district. She also served as president pro tempore of the Colorado Senate from 2021-2023. Prior to entering the state legislature, she was active in local politics in Vail, Colorado.

Kerry Donovan
President pro tempore of the Colorado Senate
In office
January 13, 2021 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byNancy Todd
Succeeded byJames Coleman
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 5th district
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byGail Schwartz
Succeeded byBob Rankin (redistricted)
Personal details
Born1978 or 1979 (age 44–45)
Vail, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseShad Murib
EducationNortheastern Junior College
University of Notre Dame (BA)
Signature

Donovan was born in Vail and educated at the University of Notre Dame. She entered politics with her election to the town council in Vail. She won election to the state senate to succeed term-limited Gail Schwartz. During her tenure in the state senate, she was selected to serve as Majority Whip and President pro tempore.

Early life and education

Kerry Donovan was born to John and Diana Donovan in Vail, Colorado. Her grandfather served in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology.[2][1] She is married to Shad Murib.[3] Donovan served one term on the town council in Vail.[4]

Career

Elections
Donovan talking with Governor John Hickenlooper during a bill signing.

Senator Gail Schwartz was unable to seek reelection in the 2014 election due to term limits.[4] Donovan won the Democratic nomination to succeed Schwartz and defeated Republican nominee Don Suppes, who served as mayor of Orchard, Colorado, and Libertarian nominee Lee Mulcahy.[5][6] During the campaign she had raised around $150,000 against Suppes' $107,000 and Mulcahy's $2,750.[7] She won reelection after defeating Republican nominee Olen Lund in the 2018 election.[8] During the campaign she raised around $228,000 to Lund's $21,000.[9]

Tenure

During Donovan's tenure she served as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee and as a member of the Transportation and Energy, and Legislative Council committees. Donovan was selected to serve as Majority Whip in 2018.[10][11] She was selected to replace Senator Nancy Todd, who was term-limited, as president pro tempore of the state senate in 2020.[12]

Donovan was one of the people Jared Polis considered for selection as his lieutenant gubernatorial running mate during the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election, but Polis selected Dianne Primavera instead.[13] During the 2020 presidential election she endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic presidential nomination.[14]

Congressional campaigns

In 2017, Donovan declined to run for the Democratic nomination in Colorado's 2nd congressional district after Representative Polis announced that he would run for governor.[15] In 2020, Donovan considered a run for the United States Senate, but ended up declining and endorsed then, Former Governor John Hickenlooper.[16] Donovan filed to run for the Democratic nomination in Colorado's 3rd congressional district for the 2022 election on February 3, 2021, becoming the third person to enter the primary.[17][18] Donovan suspended her campaign's fundraising after Colorado's congressional redistricting commission approved a map.[19] She ended her campaign on November 5, due to her being drawn out of the 3rd congressional district by redistricting and instead placed into the 2nd congressional district represented by Joe Neguse, a member of the Democratic Party.[20]

Political positions

Donovan introduced legislation with Senator Owen Hill to allow voters to take photos of their ballots as under the current law voters face up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine for taking a photo of their ballot.[21]

Donovan introduced legislation that created Public Lands Day as a state holiday in Colorado to recognize the twenty-four million acres of public land in Colorado and its importance in the life and economy of Colorado. The legislation was passed in the state senate by a vote of twenty-eight to seven and in the state house by a vote of thirty-nine to twenty-six.[22]

Donovan sponsored legislation in the state senate which would create a paid family leave system which would be paid for by having employees pay 0.99% of their salary.[23] She and Representatives Marc Catlin and Dylan Roberts introduced legislation which called for the Regulatory Agencies and Health Care Policy and Financing departments to create a public healthcare option that would add to Connect for Health Colorado, Colorado's medical care exchange.[24]

Electoral history
2014 Colorado Senate 5th district Democratic primary[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kerry Donovan 4,835 100.00%
Total votes 4,835 100.00%
2014 Colorado Senate 5th district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kerry Donovan 27,526 49.04%
Republican Don Suppes 26,225 46.73%
Libertarian Lee Mulcahy 2,374 4.23%
Total votes 56,125 100.00%
2018 Colorado Senate 5th district Democratic primary[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kerry Donovan (incumbent) 13,707 100.00%
Total votes 13,707 100.00%
2018 Colorado Senate 5th district election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Kerry Donovan (incumbent) 41,838 60.45%
Republican Olen Lund 27,375 39.55%
Total votes 69,213 100.00%

References
  1. "Colorado Senate District 5 candidate Q&A". The Denver Post. October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  2. "Introducing Kerry Donovan". Telluride Daily Planet. April 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  3. "Lauren Boebert already faces three Democratic challengers in 2022, including state Sen. Kerry Donovan". Greeley Tribune. February 4, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  4. "State Senate balance hangs on five seats". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. May 22, 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2021.
  6. "Senate: Republicans could have momentum for overturning two recent gun control laws". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. November 9, 2014. p. 7. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "PACs contribute generously to GOP candidates". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. November 2, 2014. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "2018 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 19, 2020.
  9. "In race to win Senate, Dems far outraise GOP". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. October 31, 2018. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "SEN. KERRY DONOVAN". Colorado Democratic Party. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  11. "Lawmakers choose new leaders". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. November 9, 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Legislators elect their new leaders for 2021 session". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. November 6, 2020. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Polis picks Primavera as running mate". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. July 3, 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Key Colorado state senator backs Elizabeth Warren, not Michael Bennet". Colorado Politics. September 23, 2019. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  15. "Kerry Donovan will stay on the ranch and in the Capitol, because Congress can wait". Colorado Politics. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  16. Burness, Alex (February 21, 2019). "Colorado Women Are Conquering The Statehouse. Is A U.S. Senate Seat Next?". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  17. "Democrat Kerry Donovan launches campaign to unseat Lauren Boebert". The Colorado Sun. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  18. "State Sen. Kerry Donovan jumps into CD3 race to challenge Boebert in 2022". Colorado Politics. February 3, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021.
  19. "Boebert Challenger Suspends Fundraising, Cites Redistricting". Associated Press. October 6, 2021. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
  20. "Democrat Kerry Donovan ends her campaign to unseat Lauren Boebert after redistricting". The Colorado Sun. November 5, 2021. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
  21. "Bill headed to governor will allow ballot selfies". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. March 3, 2017. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. May 17, 2017. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Dems plan family leave proposal". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. February 4, 2019. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Guv signs health care bills". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. May 18, 2019. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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