The Colorado House of Representatives elected Alec Garnett, D-Denver, as the speaker of the House by a party line vote of 41-24, with some in the majority party accusing Republicans of forcing an "unprecedented" roll call vote by putting forward their own candidate.
"Madam Speaker, what weâre seeing today is an inexcusable sign of bad faith," said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, addressing outgoing speaker KC Becker, D-Boulder. "Our institutions run on camaraderie, decorum and mutual respect. These values are upheld and embodied by our speakers, who serve not as leaders of their own caucuses, but leaders for the body as a whole."