Colorado Sen. Chris Hansen plans to resign from the legislature Jan. 9 as he starts new job as utility CEO

Democratic state Sen. Chris Hansen plans to resign from the legislature Jan. 9, the day after Colorado’s 2025 lawmaking term begins, as he takes on a new role as the chief executive officer of the La Plata Electric Association.

Hansen, who lives in Denver, told The Colorado Sun that he will submit a letter of resignation to Capitol leadership in the coming days. 

The La Plata Electric Association on Tuesday announced that it had selected Hansen as its CEO, a week after Hansen was reelected to a second four-year term in the Colorado Senate representing District 31. He didn’t make his plans to resign from the legislature known until Wednesday when he spoke with The Sun. 

The timing of Hansen’s resignation effectively prevents voters in his Senate District 31 from having a say in their state senator until 2026. His seat will be held by a vacancy appointee until then.

Hansen, who ran unsuccessfully in 2023 to be mayor of Denver, said he didn’t pursue the job in Durango, but was rather contacted by a recruiter about the opening.

“This is not something I took lightly,” he said. “This is a decision I made in the best interest of my family. It’s an amazing professional opportunity.” 

Hansen said he didn’t sign a contract to take the job until Nov. 9, four days after the election. 

Part of the reason Hansen says he took the job is to help pay for his two sons’ college education. State lawmakers earn about $40,000 a year. His oldest child is a senior in high school. 

Hansen’s predecessor at LPEA, Jessica Matlock, earned $545,000 her last year leading the nonprofit utility. She announced her resignation as CEO in February. 

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Hansen plans to commute from his home in Denver to Durango while his oldest son finishes high school. He and his family will eventually move to southwestern Colorado.

The La Plata Electric Association is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative that provides electricity to the residents of La Plata and Archuleta counties, as well as to portions of Hinsdale, Mineral and San Juan counties. It has roughly $110 million in operating revenues. 

Hansen is an electric distribution expert. In addition to serving as a state senator, he is the founder and executive director of the Institute for Western Energy and has more than 25 years of industry experience. 

A Democratic vacancy committee, made up of party insiders, will be convened in Senate District 31 to select Hansen’s replacement for the next two years. In 2026, that person would have to run for reelection to stay in the seat.

State Rep. Steven Woodrow and state Rep.-elect Sean Camacho, both Denver Democrats, have expressed interest in the job.

“It’s something we’re looking into very closely, and I’m really encouraged by all of the positive feedback so far,” Woodrow said in a text message.

Woodrow was elected last week to his third term representing House District 2. He was first appointed to the legislature by a House vacancy committee created after Hansen, then a state representative, was selected by a Senate vacancy committee to fill the seat of Sen. Lois Court, a Denver Democrat who resigned in the middle of her term because of a medical issue.

Camacho was elected to his first term in the legislature Nov. 5. He will represent House District 6. 

“A significant portion of SD31 are the same folks I’ve been campaigning for,” Camacho said, adding that he believes the Senate needs more Hispanic representation. (He is half Puerto Rican.)

Hansen, in an interview with The Sun, said he is supporting Camacho’s bid to replace him. And he wants Democrat Katie March, a former legislative aide, to replace Camacho.

“Sean has my full support. And Katie March would have my full support to House District 6. I think they could both do a great job at the legislature,” he said. 

March confirmed her interest in the position. “I am always looking for ways to help serve my community,” she said.

March ran to represent House District 6 in 2022, losing in the primary to state Rep. Elisabeth Epps. 

Camacho defeated Epps in the district’s Democratic primary this year.

State law dictates that the Senate District 31 vacancy committee cannot meet more than 20 days before Hansen’s resignation takes effect. That would be Dec. 20.

Hansen said he isn’t resigning from the legislature earlier as to prevent the need for two vacancy committees — one to select someone to serve out his current term, which ends on Jan. 8, when his next term begins at the start of the 2025 legislative session.