Aurora state Sen. Janet Buckner resigning, citing health, family concerns

AURORA | Aurora Democratic state Sen. Janet Buckner announced Thursday she is resigning her just-won Aurora legislative seat, citing unspecified health and family concerns.

“After a personally challenging year, it is time for me to step aside and prioritize my family and health,” Buckner said in a statement. “I am grateful to my constituents in Senate District 29 for their trust, and to my colleagues in both the House and Senate who have graciously supported me. I leave with full confidence that SD29 will continue to thrive under thoughtful and dedicated leadership.”

Buckner ran unopposed to a second term in for the seat in November. 

“My journey in public service began nine years ago after my husband, John, passed away, and it has been a joy and honor to build on his legacy and forge a path of my own,” Buckner said. “I am extremely proud of the work he and I did to ensure that every child has access to a quality education and every Coloradan has the opportunity to succeed.”

Buckner told CPR News she made the decision after the election, “in consultation with her family, to prioritize herself and mentor the next generation, especially other Black women. She said President-elect Donald Trump’s victory also played a factor in her decision.” 

“As a woman of color I have crossed so many barriers, so the presidential election did make me think deeply about what I’m going to do with the rest of my life,” she told CPR reporter Bente Birkland. 

She followed John Buckner into the Legislature after his death, when she was appointed to his House seat in 2015. She was elected to the seat the following year and won a state Senate seat in 2020.

Buckner talked about her husband’s death and a wide range of issues, including life a Black female legislator in a column written earlier this year for the Sentinel.

“I’ve carried over the mission to lift up Black and historically under-served communities into all areas of my work,” she wrote. “From improving maternal health care, to ensuring all Colorado kids have access to quality, free preschool, to making Juneteenth a state holiday, at the core of all of my legislation is a commitment to Black, brown and underserved communities and ensuring they have the resources, recognition, and opportunity they need to thrive.”

Polis said she was a strong voice for several causes at the Capitol. 

 “Janet Buckner is a friend and champion for the people of our state and Aurora,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “From her focus on issues like free preschool, education, saving people money on health care and so much more, she has put the people of Colorado first.”

Arapahoe County Democratic Party officials said a vacancy committee will meet Monday, Jan. 6 to select a replacement for Buckner. The time and place are still undecided. The first day of the 2025 Colorado legislative session is Jan. 8.

The abrupt resignation has resulted in a flurry of concern among both Democrat and Republican party officials. Both parties have called for changes in election law and requirements for special elections, in an effort for on party to hand over the seat to another party member without voter input.

Denver state Sen. Chris Hansen also won re-election to his Denver state Senate seat and announced, abruptly after victory, that he would resign and move to the Western slope for a job, according to CPR and other reports.

“The growing number of senators and representatives of both parties serving in office as a result of vacancy committee selections and not traditional elections should concern every Coloradan, and it certainly concerns me,” Democratic Party Chairperson Shad Murib said in a statement.