Crisanta Duran

American attorney and politician from Colorado

Crisanta Duran

Duran in 2010

59th Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
January 11, 2017 – January 4, 2019
Preceded by| Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
Succeeded by| KC Becker
Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 11, 2017
Preceded by| Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
Succeeded by| KC Becker
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 5th district
In office
January 11, 2011 – January 4, 2019
Preceded by| Joel Judd
Succeeded by| Alex Valdez
Personal details
Born|  (1980-08-23) August 23, 1980 (age 44)
Boulder, Colorado, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Education| University of Denver (BA)
University of Colorado, Boulder (JD)

Crisanta Duran (born August 23, 1980) is a former American politician who served as the 38th Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.[1][2] A member of the Democratic Party, she was the Colorado State Representative for the 5th district from 2011 to 2019, which encompasses part of northwest Denver. She served as Majority Leader from 2015 to 2017. Duran is the first and only Latina elected Speaker of the House in state history.[3]

Duran briefly ran for Colorado's 1st congressional district in the 2020 election before dropping out. She is currently a candidate for Colorado Attorney General in the 2026 election.

## Early life

[edit]

Duran was born in Boulder, Colorado,[2] and is one of three children.[4] Duran's father worked at a tire shop before eventually becoming the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union.[4]

## Education

[edit]

Duran graduated from the University of Denver in 2002, double-majoring in Spanish and public policy.[5] Duran earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado.[5]

## Career

[edit]

Duran started her legal career as an attorney with the United Food and Commercial Workers.[6]

### Colorado House of Representatives

[edit]

In 2010, Duran won election to the Colorado House of Representatives for a seat based in western Denver.[6] Duran was elected as the Colorado House majority leader in November 2014.[7] In 2014, the Washington Post named Duran to its "40 under 40" list of rising political stars.[8] She currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Let America Vote, an organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that aims to end voter suppression.[9]

### Congressional run

[edit]

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 1

On February 24, 2019, Duran announced her campaign to represent Colorado's 1st congressional district after the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections.[10] However, she ended her campaign on October 11, 2019 after failing to attract sufficient support or campaign contributions.[11] Duran had previously considered a run for the United States Senate.[12]

### Colorado Attorney General

[edit]

See also: 2026 Colorado Attorney General election

On February 27, 2025, Duran announced her campaign for Colorado Attorney General in the Democratic Primary of the 2026 Colorado Attorney General election.[13]

## Awards

[edit]

* 2016 Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award. Presented by EMILY's List. April 12, 2016.[14][15]

## See also

[edit]

* List of female speakers of legislatures in the United States

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Bartels, Lynn (August 22, 2013). "Reps. Cristana Duran, Cory Gardner blow out the candles". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 3, 2016. "Duran, a Denver Democrat, turns 33 Friday"
2. ^ a b "Crisanta Duran". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
3. ^ Olabi, Nora (July 9, 2018). "Outgoing Denver Democrat Crisanta Duran on the Past Eight Years at the Capitol". Westword. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
4. ^ a b Bunch, Joey (July 25, 2016). "Crisanta Duran, Colorado House Democratic leader, set to address DNC Thursday". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
5. ^ a b Williams, Kevin (September 27, 2012). "State Rep. Crisanta Duran dedicated to community service". University of Denver Magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
6. ^ a b Aparicio, Diego (July 28, 2015). "Crisanta Duran, a legacy that aims to all four Colorado corners". Denver Post. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
7. ^ Bartels, Lynn (November 14, 2014). "Colorado House Dems elect state's first all-female top leadership team". The Denver Post. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
8. ^ Blake, Aaron (May 19, 2014). "40 under 40". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
9. ^ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
10. ^ Paul, Jesse (February 24, 2019). "Former Colorado House Speaker Crisanta Duran launches primary challenge to Democrat Diana DeGette". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
11. ^ Frank, John (October 11, 2019). "Crisanta Duran, once a rising Democratic star, abandons bid to unseat Diana DeGette". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
12. ^ Burness, Alex (February 22, 2019). "Crisanta Duran rethinking 2020 Senate bid, eyeing possible primary against Diana DeGette". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
13. ^ Klamann, Seth (February 27, 2025). "Former Colorado House Speaker will run for Attorney General". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
14. ^ "EMILY's List Announces Crisanta Duran as Winner of 2016 Rising Star Award". emilyslist.org. March 25, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
15. ^ Bunch, Joey (March 25, 2016). "EMILY's List honors Colorado House Democratic leader Crisanta Duran". denverpost.com. Retrieved May 14, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Legislative web page
* Campaign web site

Colorado House of Representatives

Preceded by

Dickey Lee Hullinghorst

|  Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
2015–2017  | Succeeded by

KC Becker

Political offices
Preceded by

Dickey Lee Hullinghorst

|  Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
2017–2019  | Succeeded by

KC Becker