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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox State Representative
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
| name=Kevin Priola
{{Infobox officeholder
| image name= Kevin_Priola_House_District_56.jpg|thumb|right|Kevin Priola Representative for HD 30]
| name = Kevin Priola
| state_house=Colorado
| image = Kevin Priola.JPG
| state=Colorado
| state_senate = Colorado
| district=30th
| district = [[Colorado's 13th Senate district|13th]]
| term_start=January 7, 2009<ref name="house09">{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/Clics/CLICS2009A/csljournals.nsf/(jouhse)/0475167CD03000CB8725752E0056A5B3/$FILE/Jn07.pdf |title=House Journal - January 7, 2009 |accessdate=2009-01-09 |format=pdf |work=Colorado General Assembly }}</ref>
| term_start = January 9, 2023
| preceded=[[Mary Hodge]]
| term_end =
| succeeded=
| predecessor = Redistricted
| birth_date=
| successor =
| birth_place=Denver
| state_senate1 = Colorado
| death_date=
| district1 = [[Colorado's 25th Senate district|25th]]
| death_place=
| term_start1 = January 11, 2017
| spouse=Michelle
| term_end1 = January 9, 2023
| profession=
| preceded1 = [[Mary Hodge]]
| religion=
| succeeded1 = Redistricted
| party=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| office2 = Member of the [[Colorado House of Representatives]]
| website= [http://Kevinpriola.com Kevinpriola.com]
| constituency2 = 56th district
| term_start2 = January 9, 2013
| term_end2 = January 11, 2017
| predecessor2 = [[Christine Scanlan]]
| successor2 = [[Philip Covarrubias]]
| constituency3 = 30th District
| term_start3 = January 14, 2009
| term_end3 = January 9, 2013
| predecessor3 = [[Mary Hodge]]
| successor3 = [[Jenise May]]
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Brighton, Colorado]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (2022–present)<br>[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (1990–2022)
| spouse = Michelle
| children = 4
| education =
| signature =
}}


'''Kevin Priola''' is an American politician who serves in the [[Colorado Senate]] from the [[Colorado's 13th Senate district|13th district]] as a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. Prior to decennial redistricting he also represented the [[Colorado's 25th Senate district|25th district]]. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the [[Colorado House of Representatives]] from the 30th and 56th districts from 2009 to 2017. Until 2022, he served as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].
|}}


Priola was born in [[Brighton, Colorado]], and educated at the [[University of Colorado Boulder]] where he joined the [[College Republicans]]. He joined the Republican Party at age seventeen and was elected to the state house from the 30th district in the 2008 election. During his tenure in the state house he served as a [[Whip (politics)|whip]], but resigned in 2014 following an unsuccessful attempt to remove him. He was elected to the state senate in the 2016 election. He [[Party switching in the United States|switched parties]] to the Democratic Party on August 22, 2022, citing [[Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election|Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Associated Press |first= |author-link=Associated Press |date=September 11, 2022 |title=GOP-led recall effort approved for state senator who joined Democrats last month |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/09/11/recall-effort-republican-democrat-state-senator-kevin-priola/ |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=[[Colorado Public Radio]] |language=en}}</ref>
'''Kevin Priola''' is a legislator in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Colorado]]. Elected to the [[Colorado House of Representatives]] as a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] in 2008, Priola represented House District 30, which encompasses central [[Adams County, Colorado]], from 2008 to 2012.<ref name="map">{{cite web |url=http://comaps.org/district30h.html |title=State House District 30 |accessdate=2008-11-08 |work=COMaps }}</ref> In the 2012 election, Representative Priola was reelected to the [[Redistricting|newly redistricted]] House District 56. <ref>{{cite web|title=Ballotpedia|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Hyq8-DHdgn4J:ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Kevin_Priola+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref>


Priola was redistricted into the [[Colorado's 13th Senate district|13th district]].<ref>{{Cite web |author=Evan Wyloge and Marianne Goodland |date=November 24, 2021 |title=With new state House and Senate maps, let the games begin |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/new-colorado-state-house-senate-legislative-redistricting-district-map-2022-means-incumbents-candidates-planning/article_fbe7390c-4954-11ec-a463-231747d983a7.html |access-date=July 30, 2022 |publisher=Colorado Politics}}</ref>
==Biography==
Born and raised in [[Adams County, Colorado]], Priola graduated from [[Horizon High School (Thornton, Colorado)|Horizon High School]] in [[Thornton, Colorado|Thornton]]. He then attended the [[University of Colorado at Boulder]], where he was a member of the [[College Republicans]], earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in economics. While at CU, Priola participated in the [[Ralphie]] Handlers program, as one of the students who train and care for the school's mascot. Priola remained involved with the program after graduation,<ref name="bio"/> and has served as its co-director since 2001;<ref name="buff">{{cite news |first=Vicky |last=Uhland |title=Talk about some Buff bodies |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_10882242 |work=Denver Post |date=3 November 2008 |accessdate=2008-11-24 }}</ref> he received The Denver Chapter Buff Club's Most Valuable Buff Award for his service.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.kevinpriola.com/biography.html |title=Biography |accessdate=2008-11-24 |work=Kevin Priola }}</ref>


==Early life==
Priola has spent his career working for two family businesses, Priola Greenhouses and CAP Land Company in [[Henderson, Colorado]], where he has served as vice-president and treasurer. Priola is also an active member of the [[Commerce City, Colorado|Commerce City]] [[Rotary Club]], for which he has served as president, and served on the Commerce City Name Change Committee.<ref name="bio"/>


Kevin Priola was born in [[Brighton, Colorado]]. He attended the [[University of Colorado Boulder]] from 1992 to 1996, and graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree in finance and accounting and a minor in economics. He became a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] at age seventeen and was a member of the [[College Republicans]]. He married Michelle, with whom he had four children.<ref name="death">{{Cite news |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Lone Republican Supporter of Death Penalty Repeal on Faith, Colleagues |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/lone-republican-supporter-of-colorado-death-penalty-repeal-kevin-priola-on-faith-colleagues-11260861 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206234911/https://www.westword.com/news/lone-republican-supporter-of-colorado-death-penalty-repeal-kevin-priola-on-faith-colleagues-11260861 |archive-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref><ref name="career">{{Cite news |title=Kevin Priola |work=[[Colorado Republican Party]] |url=https://www.coloradosenaterepublicans.com/priola/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123213823/https://www.coloradosenaterepublicans.com/priola/ |archive-date=January 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Kevin Priola biography |work=[[Vote Smart]] |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/106512/kevin-priola |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207075756/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/106512/kevin-priola |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
In 1996, Priola married his high school sweetheart Michelle. He and his wife currently have three young children.<ref name="bio"/>


==Career==
==Legislative career==
===2008 election===


Priola ran for the Republican nomination for a seat in the [[Colorado House of Representatives]] in the 30th district in the 2008 election and won in the general election against [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee Dave Rose.<ref name="election 2008">{{Cite news |title=Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary and 2008 General |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018203144/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> He defeated Democratic nominee Laura Huerta in the 2010 election.<ref name="election 2010">{{Cite news |title=Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary and 2010 General |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408095248/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=April 8, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> He defeated Democratic nominee Rose and [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] nominee Will Hiltscher in the 2012 election.<ref name="primary 2012">{{Cite news |title=2012 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/republican/stateReps.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210080445/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/republican/stateReps.html |archive-date=February 10, 2022 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="election 2012">{{Cite news |title=2012 General Election Results |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/representatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211201074009/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/representatives.html |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> He defeated Democratic nominee Vicki A. Snider and Libertarian nominee Chris Baerns in the 2014 election.<ref name="primary 2014">{{Cite news |title=2014 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/republican/stateReps.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629071852/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/republican/stateReps.html |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="election 2014">{{Cite news |title=2014 General Election Results |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205112516/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/representatives.html |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref>
In 2008, Priola announced his intention to run for 30th District seat in the Colorado House of Representatives that was to be vacated by Mary Hodge (D). On November 4, 2008, Priola won election to the 30th District seat, defeating opponent Dave Rose (D) by less than 500 votes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kevin Priola|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_Priola#2010|publisher=Ballotpedia|accessdate=February 28, 2014}}</ref>


Priola ran for a seat in the [[Colorado Senate]] from the [[Colorado's 25th Senate district|25th district]] and defeated Democratic nominee Jenise May in the 2016 election.<ref name="primary 2016">{{Cite news |title=2016 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/republican/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523233746/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/primary/republican/stateSenate.html |archive-date=May 23, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="election 2016">{{Cite news |title=2016 General Election Results |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111747/http://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2016/general/stateSenate.html |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref> He defeated Democratic nominee Paula Dickerson in the [[2020 Colorado Senate election|2020 election]].<ref name="primary 2020">{{Cite news |title=2020 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/primary/republican/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112154021/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/primary/republican/stateSenate.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref><ref name="election 2020">{{Cite news |title=2020 General Election Results |work=[[Secretary of State of Colorado]] |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/general/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126223252/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2020/general/stateSenate.html |archive-date=November 26, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022}}</ref> He over-performed [[Donald Trump]] by over 10% in the 2020 election in his district.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2020 |title=What happened to the Colorado Republican Party? |work=[[The Denver Post]] |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/20/colorado-republican-party-what-happened/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202235236/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/20/colorado-republican-party-what-happened/ |archive-date=February 2, 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Candidate !! Votes
|-
| Kevin Priola (R) || 11,936
|-
| Dave Rose (D) || 11,505
|}


He served as a [[Whip (politics)|whip]] during his tenure in the state house, but resigned from his position in 2014, the day after Representative [[Chris Holbert]] unsuccessfully attempted to have him removed from the position due to Priola not supporting a Republican amendment to legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2012 |title=Changing of the guard House Republicans now the minority party at state legislature |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/changing-of-the-guard-house-republicans-now-the-minority-party-at-state-legislature/article_6fdcb1ea-56e4-5d63-b5c8-088665b924c1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207082216/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/changing-of-the-guard-house-republicans-now-the-minority-party-at-state-legislature/article_6fdcb1ea-56e4-5d63-b5c8-088665b924c1.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 13, 2014 |title=House GOP coup against Rep. Priola fails |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/house-gop-coup-against-rep-priola-fails/article_2d84426c-66a8-5d04-b590-6859538bcf6f.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207081847/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/house-gop-coup-against-rep-priola-fails/article_2d84426c-66a8-5d04-b590-6859538bcf6f.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 2014 |title=Priola bows to pressure, resigns House GOP leadership post |work=[[KDVR]] |url=https://kdvr.com/news/politics/priola-bows-to-pressure-resigns-house-gop-leadership-post/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207174949/https://kdvr.com/news/politics/priola-bows-to-pressure-resigns-house-gop-leadership-post/ |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> During his tenure in the state senate he served on the Business, Labor and Technology, and Education committees.<ref name="career" /> He was considered as a possible running mate for [[Walker Stapleton]] in the [[2018 Colorado gubernatorial election|2018 gubernatorial election]], but [[Lang Sias]] was selected instead.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 11, 2018 |title=Stapleton picks Rep. Lang Sias as GOP running mate |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/stapleton-picks-rep-lang-sias-as-gop-running-mate/article_6ba1068b-b659-5041-886c-1c8c7c56fe79.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207081330/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/stapleton-picks-rep-lang-sias-as-gop-running-mate/article_6ba1068b-b659-5041-886c-1c8c7c56fe79.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
===2009 legislative session===
For the 2009 legislative session, Priola was named to seats on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and the House Education Committee.<ref name="cmte09">{{cite press release |title=House Republican Committee Assignments Announced |date=18 November 2008 |publisher=Colorado House Democrats |url=http://www.coloradohousegop.com/?q=node/92 }}</ref>


==Political positions==
Priola ran the following bills in 2009:
*House Bill 1132 Protect Children from Unlawful Acts That Utilize New Technology, Signed by the governor.
*Senate Bill 85 Phase Out Business Personal Property Tax, Signed by the governor.
*Senate Bill 147 Alleviate South Platte Well Depletion Debts, Signed by the governor.


Priola is considered a [[Political moderate|moderate]] in his district, and has worked with Democrats in sponsoring or supporting bipartisan bills.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Birkeland |first=Bente |title=In Adams County, Voters Went Big For Biden, But Also Hung On To Their Republican State Senator. Why? |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/11/17/in-adams-county-voters-went-big-for-biden-but-also-hung-on-to-their-republican-state-senator-why/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Colorado Public Radio |language=en}}</ref> He voted in favor of legislation to allow municipalities to require affordable housing which had been prohibited since a ruling by the [[Colorado Supreme Court]] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 4, 2021 |title=Colorado Legislature Removes Ban on Affordable-Housing Requirements |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-legislature-removes-inclusionary-zoning-prohibition-11959174 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206233908/https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-legislature-removes-inclusionary-zoning-prohibition-11959174 |archive-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref> He was the only Republican in the state senate to vote in favor of legislation to prevent landlords from using or disclosing the citizenship or immigration status of their tenants.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Bill moving fast to curb Colorado landlords' questions about immigration status |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/bill-moving-fast-to-curb-colorado-landlords-questions-about-immigration-status/article_ff7fbb3e-ac25-11ea-ad3a-df7c68f8bfaf.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207081053/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/bill-moving-fast-to-curb-colorado-landlords-questions-about-immigration-status/article_ff7fbb3e-ac25-11ea-ad3a-df7c68f8bfaf.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
===2010 legislative session===
For the 2010 legislative session, Priola was named to seats on the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee and the House Local Government Committee.<ref name="cmte10">[http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=CGA-LegislativeCouncil%2FCLCLayout&cid=1251568861809&pagename=CLCWrapper]</ref>


He sponsored legislation to exempt teachers from the Colorado Open Records Act in order to prevent [[doxing]] being conducted against teachers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2022 |title=Colorado’s growing anti-doxxing law could soon include teachers |work=[[The Denver Post]] |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2022/04/15/colorado-anti-doxxing-law-teachers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505210012/https://www.denverpost.com/2022/04/15/colorado-anti-doxxing-law-teachers/ |archive-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref> Priola was the only Republican to vote in favor of legislation to prohibit employers from retaliating against their workers for reporting health and safety concerns or violations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Colorado legislature approves extending public health whistleblower protections after pandemic |work=[[The Gazette (Colorado Springs)|The Gazette]] |url=https://gazette.com/premium/colorado-legislature-approves-extending-public-health-whistleblower-protections-after-pandemic/article_73a76ad4-e007-5f3b-a7e6-fc480146eca7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505211554/https://gazette.com/premium/colorado-legislature-approves-extending-public-health-whistleblower-protections-after-pandemic/article_73a76ad4-e007-5f3b-a7e6-fc480146eca7.html |archive-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>
Priola ran the following bills in 2010:
*HB 1285 Economic Incentives for the Trucking Industry, Signed by the governor
*HB 1264 Identify and Eliminate Government Waste, Fraud and Abuse, Signed by the governor
*HB 1081 Prevent Money Laundering in Gambling, Signed by the governor
*SB 116 Prompt Payment for Public Works Contractors, Signed by the governor
*HB 1185 Ensure Safe and Accurate Gas Pumps, Signed by the governor
*HB 1220 Continue and Streamline The Division of Insurance,Signed by the governor
*HB 1291 Reduce Administrative Court Costs,Signed by the governor
*SB 85 and SB 86 Phase Out the Business Personal Property Tax, Lost in the Senate State Affairs Committee


He co-sponsored legislation to repeal the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]], and at one point was the only Republican supporter of the bill, stating that he opposes capital punishment due to his [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] beliefs and how it disproportionately targets black people.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 28, 2020 |title=Death Penalty Repeal Bill Passes First Legislative Step |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-consider-death-penalty-repeal-11621943 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206234250/https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-lawmakers-consider-death-penalty-repeal-11621943 |archive-date=February 6, 2022}}</ref><ref name="death" /> He voted in favor of reducing the sentence of felony murder from life in prison without parole to a maximum of forty-eight years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 31, 2021 |title=Lee's felony murder bill wins state Senate approval |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/lees-felony-murder-bill-wins-state-senate-approval/article_4590552c-9238-11eb-bb05-374afe59b341.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207080351/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/lees-felony-murder-bill-wins-state-senate-approval/article_4590552c-9238-11eb-bb05-374afe59b341.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>


He and Senator [[Brittany Pettersen]] created legislation to allow for [[supervised injection site]]s to combat the [[opioid epidemic]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Statewide Supervised Use Site Bill Might Not Happen This Session |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/brittany-pettersen-may-delay-introduction-of-safe-injection-site-bill-to-counter-opposition-at-statehouse-11215004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130151321/https://www.westword.com/news/brittany-pettersen-may-delay-introduction-of-safe-injection-site-bill-to-counter-opposition-at-statehouse-11215004 |archive-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref> [[Patrick Neville]], the Republican Minority Leader in the state house, threatened to have recall attempts made against Democratic members of the [[Colorado General Assembly]] who supported the legislation, but not against Priola.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2019 |title=WATCH: GOP House leader Neville calls drug injection sites 'a horrendous idea,' threatens recalls |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/watch-gop-house-leader-neville-calls-drug-injection-sites-a-horrendous-idea-threatens-recalls/article_861ed838-1c0c-11e9-b2b6-e77109353326.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207051033/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/watch-gop-house-leader-neville-calls-drug-injection-sites-a-horrendous-idea-threatens-recalls/article_861ed838-1c0c-11e9-b2b6-e77109353326.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Priola sponsored legislation to prohibit the selling or marketing of flavored products by cigarette, tobacco, or nicotine retailers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 23, 2022 |title=How Colorado’s flavored nicotine ban debate raises questions about racial justice and where the state gets money |work=[[Colorado Public Radio]] |url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/04/23/colorado-flavored-nicotine-ban/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505210815/https://www.cpr.org/2022/04/23/colorado-flavored-nicotine-ban/ |archive-date=May 5, 2022}}</ref>
===2010 election===


Priola sponsored legislation in 2014 that would prohibit abortions, except to prevent the death of the mother, and make it a class three felony.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 17, 2014 |title=Personhood bill has chilling effect even with no chance of passing, advocate says |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/personhood-bill-has-chilling-effect-even-with-no-chance-of-passing-advocate-says-5870762 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207001218/https://www.westword.com/news/personhood-bill-has-chilling-effect-even-with-no-chance-of-passing-advocate-says-5870762 |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> He received an F rating from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Kevin Priola |work=[[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] |url=https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/kevin-priola/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117151752/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/kevin-priola/ |archive-date=January 17, 2021}}</ref>


He voted in favor of legislation to allow transgender and nonbinary people to change their names and gender on identifications without surgery or judicial requirements,<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 1, 2020 |title=Jude's Law takes effect, helping transgender, non-binary Coloradans amend birth certificates |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/quick-hits/judes-law-takes-effect-helping-transgender-non-binary-coloradans-amend-birth-certificates/article_6f6067a2-2c1d-11ea-821d-d704a688c15e.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207080551/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/quick-hits/judes-law-takes-effect-helping-transgender-non-binary-coloradans-amend-birth-certificates/article_6f6067a2-2c1d-11ea-821d-d704a688c15e.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> and voted in favor of legislation to [[List of U.S. jurisdictions banning conversion therapy|prohibit]] gay [[conversion therapy]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Conservative Utah looks to ban conversion therapy, following Colorado |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/conservative-utah-looks-to-ban-conversion-therapy-following-colorado/article_7d9dcbc6-1132-11ea-a818-9bc9e6247d51.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207080714/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/conservative-utah-looks-to-ban-conversion-therapy-following-colorado/article_7d9dcbc6-1132-11ea-a818-9bc9e6247d51.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> He cosponsored legislation to make [[HIV]] prevention drugs available without the need of a prescription.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2020 |title=Senate approves bills making HIV prevention prescription-free |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/senate-approves-bills-making-hiv-prevention-prescription-free/article_783a55c8-a921-11ea-874d-afa07f20e6d5.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207051347/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legislature/senate-approves-bills-making-hiv-prevention-prescription-free/article_783a55c8-a921-11ea-874d-afa07f20e6d5.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> He has also supported anti-[[LGBT]] [[Religious freedom bill|religious-exemption]] legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Republicans Are Still at It With Anti-LGBTQ Bills That Have No Chance of Passing |work=[[Westword]] |url=https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-republicans-continue-to-push-anti-lgbtq-bills-10241128 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225001121/https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-republicans-continue-to-push-anti-lgbtq-bills-10241128 |archive-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
Priola ran for re-election to the 30th District seat in 2010. Priola defeated Laura Huerta in the November 2 general election. <ref>{{cite web|title=Kevin Priola|url=http://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_Priola#2010|publisher=Ballotpedia|accessdate=February 28, 2014}}</ref>


After the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]], he called for President Trump to be removed from office through either the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Twenty-fifth Amendment]] or [[List of efforts to impeach presidents of the United States|impeachment]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Republican state Sen. Kevin Priola calls for Trump's removal from office |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2020-election/republican-state-sen-kevin-priola-calls-for-trumps-removal-from-office/article_e793e9d0-51db-11eb-8916-3780ccb8027b.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207002155/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2020-election/republican-state-sen-kevin-priola-calls-for-trumps-removal-from-office/article_e793e9d0-51db-11eb-8916-3780ccb8027b.html |archive-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref> Priola was the only Republican to vote in favor of a resolution calling for the passage of voting rights legislation at the federal level while fifteen Republican members of the state senate voted in favor of unsuccessful amendments to the resolution thanking the Capitol attackers and [[Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 U.S. presidential election|decertifying]] the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Why Democrats think the 2020 election debate is a political win |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |url=https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/01/19/colorado-democrats-2020-election-debate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127132135/https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/01/19/colorado-democrats-2020-election-debate |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2022 |title=Majority of Colorado House Republicans vote for supporting Jan. 6 crowd, election conspiracy theories |work=[[KMGH-TV]] |url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/majority-of-colorado-house-republicans-vote-for-supporting-jan-6-crowd-election-conspiracy-theories |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131125425/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/majority-of-colorado-house-republicans-vote-for-supporting-jan-6-crowd-election-conspiracy-theories |archive-date=January 31, 2022 |access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Candidate !! Votes
|-
| Kevin Priola (R) || 10,612
|-
| Laura Huerta (D) || 6,931
|}


On August 22, 2022, Priola announced he was leaving the Republican Party and joining the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], citing Republicans' attempts to overturn the 2020 election and [[climate change denial|denial of climate change]].<ref name=":0">{{cite tweet|number=1561728147376295939|user=KevinPriola|date=August 22, 2022|title=#coleg #copolitics #Elections2022 #democracy #Republican #DemocratsDeliver #colorado}}</ref><ref name="Post-Dem">{{cite news |first=Saja |last=Hindi |title=Colorado GOP Sen. Kevin Priola switches party affiliation to Democrat, citing election conspiracies and climate denialism |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2022/08/22/colorado-kevin-priola-state-senate-republican-democrat/ |work=[[The Denver Post]] |date=August 22, 2022 |access-date=August 22, 2022}}</ref> Priola's wife, Michelle, is a plaintiff on [[Anderson v. Griswold]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Jesse |last2=Fish |first2=Sandra |title=Lawsuit seeks to block Trump from appearing on Colorado’s 2024 ballot |url=https://coloradosun.com/2023/09/06/donald-trump-2024-ballot-lawsuit-colorado/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Colorado Sun |date=6 September 2023}}</ref>
===2011 legislative session===
For the 2011 legislative session, Priola was named to seats on the Economic and Business Development Committee and Transportation Committee. <ref>{{cite web|title=Ballotpedia|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Hyq8-DHdgn4J:ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Kevin_Priola+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref>


==Electoral history==
Priola ran the following bills in 2011:
*SB 167 Efficiencies in State Regulatory Systems, Signed by the governor
*HB 1130 Commodity Metals Transactions Violations, Signed by the governor
*HB 1115 Prompt Payment for Public Constructions Projects, Signed by governor
*HB 1263 Business Personal Property Tax Exemption, Lost in Senate
*SB 23 Reduce Use of State-Owned Vehicles for Commuting, Lost in Senate


{{Election box begin|title = 2008 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district Republican primary<ref name="election 2008" />}}
===2012 legislative session===
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
For the 2012 legislative session, Priola was named to the seats on the Economic and Business Development Committee and the Transportation Committee.
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola
|votes = 1,579
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 1,579
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2008 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district election<ref name="election 2008" />}}
Priola ran the following bills in 2012:
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
*SB 149 Allows Local Government Retirement Retirement Plan Modifications, Signed by Governor
|party = Republican Party (United States)
*SB 38 Protects Consumers' Residential Roofing Work, Signed by Governor
|candidate = Kevin Priola
*HB 1150 Calculate PERA using highest 7 years, Lost in Senate
|votes = 11,936
*SB 52 Local and Statewide Assessed Property Tax Exemption, Lost in Senate
|percentage = 50.92%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dave Rose
|votes = 11,505
|percentage = 49.08%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 23,441
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2010 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district Republican primary<ref name="election 2010" />}}
===2012 election===
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 2,912
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 2,912
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2010 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district election<ref name="election 2010" />}}
In the [[United States elections, 2012|2012 General Election]], Representative Priola faced Democratic challenger [[Dave Rose (Colorado politician)|Dave Rose]]. Priola was elected by a wide margin of 59% to 37%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/111283/en/summary.html# |title=CO - Election Results - Colorado Secretary of State}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.denverpost.com/election/results/state-house/2012/ |title=State House 2012 Election Results - Denver Post}}</ref>
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 10,612
|percentage = 60.49%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Laura Huerta
|votes = 6,931
|percentage = 39.51%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 17,543
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2012 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district Republican primary<ref name="primary 2012" />}}
{| class="wikitable"
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|-
|party = Republican Party (United States)
! Candidate !! Votes
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|-
|votes = 4,064
| Kevin Priola (R) || 22,270
|percentage = 100.00%
|-
|change =
| Dave Rose (D) || 14,070
|}
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 4,064
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2012 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district election<ref name="election 2012" />}}
===2013 Legislative Session===
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 22,270
|percentage = 58.78%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Dave Rose
|votes = 14,070
|percentage = 37.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Will Hiltscher
|votes = 1,544
|percentage = 4.08%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 37,884
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district Republican primary<ref name="primary 2014" />}}
Priola ran the following bills in 2013:
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
*HB 1040 Calculate PERA Using Highest 7 years.
|party = Republican Party (United States)
*HB 1066 Preservation of Religious Freedom.
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
*HB 1172 K-12 Public School Accountability.
|votes = 5,894
*HJR 1013 Creation of School Choice Week, Passed.
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 5,894
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2014 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district election<ref name="election 2014" />}}
===2014 Legislative Session===
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 20,627
|percentage = 63.09%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Vicki A. Snider
|votes = 10,629
|percentage = 32.51%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Chris Baerns
|votes = 1,439
|percentage = 4.40%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 32,695
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2016 Colorado Senate 25th district Republican primary<ref name="primary 2016" />}}
Priola ran the following bills in 2014:
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
*HB 1048 Religious Freedom in Higher Education
|party = Republican Party (United States)
*HB 1153 Attorney Fees for All Motions to Dismiss
|candidate = Kevin Priola
*HB 1201 Align PERA Highest Average Salary With Other States
|votes = 4,743
*HB 1262 Highly Effective Teachers and Low Performing School Districts
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 4,743
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


{{Election box begin|title = 2016 Colorado Senate 25th district election<ref name="election 2016" />}}
===2015 Legislative Session===
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
Priola ran the following bills in 2015:
|party = Republican Party (United States)
*HB 1037 Religious Freedom in Higher Education, Lost in Committee
|candidate = Kevin Priola
*HB 1200 Highly Effective Teachers and Low Performing Schools, Lost in Committee
|votes = 30,074
*HB 1512 In-State Tuition Dependents Of Military Members,
|percentage = 52.07%
*HB 1216 Basis For Expert Opinion Testimony,
|change =
*HB 1257 Eliminate Penalty To Increase Compliance Cigarette Sale
}}
*HB 1296 Campus Sexual Assault Task Force
{{Election box candidate with party link
*HJR 1020 Fitzsimons VA Hospital
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Jenise May
|votes = 27,678
|percentage = 47.93%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 57,752
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 2020 Colorado Senate 25th district Republican primary<ref name="primary 2020" />}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 11,135
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 11,135
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title = 2020 Colorado Senate 25th district election<ref name="election 2020" />}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Kevin Priola (incumbent)
|votes = 37,195
|percentage = 50.84%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Paula Dickerson
|votes = 35,968
|percentage = 49.16%
|change =
}}
{{Election box total|
|votes = 73,163
|percentage = 100.00%
|change =
}}
{{Election box end}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.kevinpriola.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://www.kevinpriola.com/ Campaign website]
* [http://leg.colorado.gov/legislators/kevin-priola Legislative website]


{{Colorado State Representatives}}
{{Colorado State Senators}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Priola, Kevin
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Denver
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Priola, Kevin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Priola, Kevin}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the Colorado House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Colorado House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Colorado Democrats]]
[[Category:Colorado Republicans]]
[[Category:College Republicans]]
[[Category:Colorado state senators]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly]]

Latest revision as of 20:35, 1 December 2024

Kevin Priola
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 13th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 9, 2023
Preceded byRedistricted
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 25th district
In office
January 11, 2017 – January 9, 2023
Preceded byMary Hodge
Succeeded byRedistricted
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 2013 – January 11, 2017
Preceded byChristine Scanlan
Succeeded byPhilip Covarrubias
Constituency56th district
In office
January 14, 2009 – January 9, 2013
Preceded byMary Hodge
Succeeded byJenise May
Constituency30th District
Personal details
BornBrighton, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2022–present)
Republican (1990–2022)
SpouseMichelle
Children4

Kevin Priola is an American politician who serves in the Colorado Senate from the 13th district as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to decennial redistricting he also represented the 25th district. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 30th and 56th districts from 2009 to 2017. Until 2022, he served as a member of the Republican Party.

Priola was born in Brighton, Colorado, and educated at the University of Colorado Boulder where he joined the College Republicans. He joined the Republican Party at age seventeen and was elected to the state house from the 30th district in the 2008 election. During his tenure in the state house he served as a whip, but resigned in 2014 following an unsuccessful attempt to remove him. He was elected to the state senate in the 2016 election. He switched parties to the Democratic Party on August 22, 2022, citing Republican attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election.[1]

Priola was redistricted into the 13th district.[2]

Early life

[edit]

Kevin Priola was born in Brighton, Colorado. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder from 1992 to 1996, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and accounting and a minor in economics. He became a Republican at age seventeen and was a member of the College Republicans. He married Michelle, with whom he had four children.[3][4][5]

Career

[edit]

Priola ran for the Republican nomination for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives in the 30th district in the 2008 election and won in the general election against Democratic nominee Dave Rose.[6] He defeated Democratic nominee Laura Huerta in the 2010 election.[7] He defeated Democratic nominee Rose and Libertarian nominee Will Hiltscher in the 2012 election.[8][9] He defeated Democratic nominee Vicki A. Snider and Libertarian nominee Chris Baerns in the 2014 election.[10][11]

Priola ran for a seat in the Colorado Senate from the 25th district and defeated Democratic nominee Jenise May in the 2016 election.[12][13] He defeated Democratic nominee Paula Dickerson in the 2020 election.[14][15] He over-performed Donald Trump by over 10% in the 2020 election in his district.[16]

He served as a whip during his tenure in the state house, but resigned from his position in 2014, the day after Representative Chris Holbert unsuccessfully attempted to have him removed from the position due to Priola not supporting a Republican amendment to legislation.[17][18][19] During his tenure in the state senate he served on the Business, Labor and Technology, and Education committees.[4] He was considered as a possible running mate for Walker Stapleton in the 2018 gubernatorial election, but Lang Sias was selected instead.[20]

Political positions

[edit]

Priola is considered a moderate in his district, and has worked with Democrats in sponsoring or supporting bipartisan bills.[21] He voted in favor of legislation to allow municipalities to require affordable housing which had been prohibited since a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court in 2000.[22] He was the only Republican in the state senate to vote in favor of legislation to prevent landlords from using or disclosing the citizenship or immigration status of their tenants.[23]

He sponsored legislation to exempt teachers from the Colorado Open Records Act in order to prevent doxing being conducted against teachers.[24] Priola was the only Republican to vote in favor of legislation to prohibit employers from retaliating against their workers for reporting health and safety concerns or violations.[25]

He co-sponsored legislation to repeal the death penalty, and at one point was the only Republican supporter of the bill, stating that he opposes capital punishment due to his Catholic beliefs and how it disproportionately targets black people.[26][3] He voted in favor of reducing the sentence of felony murder from life in prison without parole to a maximum of forty-eight years.[27]

He and Senator Brittany Pettersen created legislation to allow for supervised injection sites to combat the opioid epidemic.[28] Patrick Neville, the Republican Minority Leader in the state house, threatened to have recall attempts made against Democratic members of the Colorado General Assembly who supported the legislation, but not against Priola.[29] Priola sponsored legislation to prohibit the selling or marketing of flavored products by cigarette, tobacco, or nicotine retailers.[30]

Priola sponsored legislation in 2014 that would prohibit abortions, except to prevent the death of the mother, and make it a class three felony.[31] He received an F rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[32]

He voted in favor of legislation to allow transgender and nonbinary people to change their names and gender on identifications without surgery or judicial requirements,[33] and voted in favor of legislation to prohibit gay conversion therapy.[34] He cosponsored legislation to make HIV prevention drugs available without the need of a prescription.[35] He has also supported anti-LGBT religious-exemption legislation.[36]

After the January 6 United States Capitol attack, he called for President Trump to be removed from office through either the Twenty-fifth Amendment or impeachment.[37] Priola was the only Republican to vote in favor of a resolution calling for the passage of voting rights legislation at the federal level while fifteen Republican members of the state senate voted in favor of unsuccessful amendments to the resolution thanking the Capitol attackers and decertifying the 2020 presidential election.[38][39]

On August 22, 2022, Priola announced he was leaving the Republican Party and joining the Democratic Party, citing Republicans' attempts to overturn the 2020 election and denial of climate change.[40][41] Priola's wife, Michelle, is a plaintiff on Anderson v. Griswold.[42]

Electoral history

[edit]
2008 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district Republican primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola 1,579 100.00%
Total votes 1,579 100.00%
2008 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district election[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola 11,936 50.92%
Democratic Dave Rose 11,505 49.08%
Total votes 23,441 100.00%
2010 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district Republican primary[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 2,912 100.00%
Total votes 2,912 100.00%
2010 Colorado House of Representatives 30th district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 10,612 60.49%
Democratic Laura Huerta 6,931 39.51%
Total votes 17,543 100.00%
2012 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district Republican primary[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 4,064 100.00%
Total votes 4,064 100.00%
2012 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district election[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 22,270 58.78%
Democratic Dave Rose 14,070 37.14%
Libertarian Will Hiltscher 1,544 4.08%
Total votes 37,884 100.00%
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district Republican primary[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 5,894 100.00%
Total votes 5,894 100.00%
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 56th district election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 20,627 63.09%
Democratic Vicki A. Snider 10,629 32.51%
Libertarian Chris Baerns 1,439 4.40%
Total votes 32,695 100.00%
2016 Colorado Senate 25th district Republican primary[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola 4,743 100.00%
Total votes 4,743 100.00%
2016 Colorado Senate 25th district election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola 30,074 52.07%
Democratic Jenise May 27,678 47.93%
Total votes 57,752 100.00%
2020 Colorado Senate 25th district Republican primary[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 11,135 100.00%
Total votes 11,135 100.00%
2020 Colorado Senate 25th district election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Kevin Priola (incumbent) 37,195 50.84%
Democratic Paula Dickerson 35,968 49.16%
Total votes 73,163 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ Associated Press (September 11, 2022). "GOP-led recall effort approved for state senator who joined Democrats last month". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Evan Wyloge and Marianne Goodland (November 24, 2021). "With new state House and Senate maps, let the games begin". Colorado Politics. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Lone Republican Supporter of Death Penalty Repeal on Faith, Colleagues". Westword. March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Kevin Priola". Colorado Republican Party. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022.
  5. ^ "Kevin Priola biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary and 2008 General" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2010 Primary and 2010 General" (PDF). Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "2012 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "2012 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "2014 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "2014 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "2016 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 23, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "2016 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  14. ^ a b "2020 Primary Election Results - Republican Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "2020 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "What happened to the Colorado Republican Party?". The Denver Post. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Changing of the guard House Republicans now the minority party at state legislature". Colorado Politics. November 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  18. ^ "House GOP coup against Rep. Priola fails". Colorado Politics. April 13, 2014. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  19. ^ "Priola bows to pressure, resigns House GOP leadership post". KDVR. April 14, 2014. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "Stapleton picks Rep. Lang Sias as GOP running mate". Colorado Politics. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  21. ^ Birkeland, Bente. "In Adams County, Voters Went Big For Biden, But Also Hung On To Their Republican State Senator. Why?". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  22. ^ "Colorado Legislature Removes Ban on Affordable-Housing Requirements". Westword. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "Bill moving fast to curb Colorado landlords' questions about immigration status". Colorado Politics. June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "Colorado's growing anti-doxxing law could soon include teachers". The Denver Post. April 15, 2022. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022.
  25. ^ "Colorado legislature approves extending public health whistleblower protections after pandemic". The Gazette. May 3, 2022. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022.
  26. ^ "Death Penalty Repeal Bill Passes First Legislative Step". Westword. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "Lee's felony murder bill wins state Senate approval". Colorado Politics. March 31, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  28. ^ "Statewide Supervised Use Site Bill Might Not Happen This Session". Westword. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
  29. ^ "WATCH: GOP House leader Neville calls drug injection sites 'a horrendous idea,' threatens recalls". Colorado Politics. January 19, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "How Colorado's flavored nicotine ban debate raises questions about racial justice and where the state gets money". Colorado Public Radio. April 23, 2022. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022.
  31. ^ "Personhood bill has chilling effect even with no chance of passing, advocate says". Westword. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  32. ^ "Kevin Priola". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021.
  33. ^ "Jude's Law takes effect, helping transgender, non-binary Coloradans amend birth certificates". Colorado Politics. January 1, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  34. ^ "Conservative Utah looks to ban conversion therapy, following Colorado". Colorado Politics. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  35. ^ "Senate approves bills making HIV prevention prescription-free". Colorado Politics. June 7, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  36. ^ "Republicans Are Still at It With Anti-LGBTQ Bills That Have No Chance of Passing". Westword. April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021.
  37. ^ "Republican state Sen. Kevin Priola calls for Trump's removal from office". Colorado Politics. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
  38. ^ "Why Democrats think the 2020 election debate is a political win". Axios. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  39. ^ "Majority of Colorado House Republicans vote for supporting Jan. 6 crowd, election conspiracy theories". KMGH-TV. January 18, 2022. Archived from the original on January 31, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  40. ^ @KevinPriola (August 22, 2022). "#coleg #copolitics #Elections2022 #democracy #Republican #DemocratsDeliver #colorado" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Hindi, Saja (August 22, 2022). "Colorado GOP Sen. Kevin Priola switches party affiliation to Democrat, citing election conspiracies and climate denialism". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  42. ^ Paul, Jesse; Fish, Sandra (September 6, 2023). "Lawsuit seeks to block Trump from appearing on Colorado's 2024 ballot". Colorado Sun. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
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