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'''Kevin Priola''' is an American politician who serves in the [[Colorado Senate]] from the [[Colorado's 25th Senate district|25th district]] as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. 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. |
'''Kevin Priola''' is an American politician who serves in the [[Colorado Senate]] from the [[Colorado's 25th Senate district|25th district]] as a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. 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. |
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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. |
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 following an unsuccessful attempt to remove him. He was elected to the state senate in the 2016 election. |
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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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]]. |
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> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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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 overperformed [[Donald Trump]] by over ten percent in the 2020 election.<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> |
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 overperformed [[Donald Trump]] by over ten percent in the 2020 election.<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> |
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He served as a [[Whip (politics)|whip]] during his tenure in the state house, but resigned from his position 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> |
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During his time in the Colorado Senate, he was assigned to the Business, Labor and Technology Committee, and the Transportation and Energy Committee from 2019-2020. From 2021-2022, he was assigned to the Technology Committee, the Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Committee, the Business, Labor and Technology Committee, and the Senate Education Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kevin Priola |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_Priola |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Political positions== |
==Political positions== |
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Priola 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> |
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Priola is considered a political moderate that has often 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 chooses to specify his particular interest in the areas of transportation, energy, economy, education, health care, and family structure on his website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=kevin priola - Home |url=https://www.kevinpriola.com/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=www.kevinpriola.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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He co-sponsored legislation to repeal the [[Capital punishment in the United States|death penalty]], and at one point he was the only Republican supporter, 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> |
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Below is a list of some of the laws for which he has been a co-prime sponsor: |
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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> |
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SB21-001 'Modify COVID-19 Relief Programs for Small Business': proposed legislation that concerns modifications to programs enacted to provide relief to certain businesses impacted by severe capacity restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This bill became law on January 21, 2021<ref>{{Citation |last=Sandridge |first=Shane |title=Modify COVID-19 Relief Programs For Small Business |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-001 |issue=SB21-001 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Herod |first2=Leslie |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin |last4=Winter |first4=Faith}}</ref> |
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Priola sponsored legislation in 2014 that would prohibit abortions, except in the case of the mother's life, 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> |
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SB21-069 'License Plate Expiration on Change of Ownership': proposed legislation that concerns license plates and specifies that the license plates of a motor vehicle that is classified as Class C personal property expire upon the sale or transfer of the motor vehicle. This bill became law on August 2, 2021<ref>{{Citation |last=Ortiz |first=David |title=License Plate Expiration On Change Of Ownership |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-069 |issue=SB21-069 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Valdez |first2=Alex |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin}}</ref> |
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He 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> 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> He 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> |
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SB21-082 'Alcohol Beverage Festival for Tasting and Sales': proposed legislation that would offer authorization for certain alcohol beverage license holders to hold festivals for alcohol beverage retail activity. This bill became law on May 28, 2021<ref>{{Citation |last=Williams |first=Dave |title=Alcohol Beverage Festival For Tastings And Sales |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-082 |issue=SB21-082 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Mullica |first2=Kyle |last3=Pettersen |first3=Brittany |last4=Priola |first4=Kevin}}</ref> |
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He called for President Trump to be removed from office after the [[2021 United States Capitol attack]] through either the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|25th 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> He 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 unsuccessfully amendments to the resolution thanking the Capitol Hill attackers and to [[Post-election lawsuits related to the 2020 United States presidential election|decertify]] 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> |
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SB21-261 'Public Utilities Commission Encourage Renewable Energy Generation': legislation that would raise the allowable capacity of customer-sited renewable energy generation facilities, give customers additional options for increasing the scale and flexibility of new installations, and make an appropriation. This bill became law on June 21, 2021<ref>{{Citation |last=Amabile |first=Judy |title=Public Utilities Commission Encourage Renewable Energy Generation |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-261 |issue=SB21-261 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Valdez |first2=Alex |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin |last4=Fenberg |first4=Stephen}}</ref> |
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SB20-066 'Highly Effective Teachers in Low-Performing Areas' is proposed legislation that will provide incentives for high performing teachers to move to low performing school districts. It would greatly benefit education throughout the state<ref>{{Citation |last=Saine |first=Lori |title=Highly Effective Teachers And Low-performing Schools |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-066 |issue=SB20-066 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Buentello |first2=Bri |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin}}</ref> |
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SB20-167 'Electric Motor Vehicle Manufacturer and Dealer' is legislation that will increase consumer access to electric motor vehicles by allowing manufacturers to sell their own products directly to consumers. This bill became a law on March 23, 2020. This will grow the clean energy market in Colorado<ref>{{Citation |last=Becker |first=K. C. |title=Electric Motor Vehicle Manufacturer And Dealer |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-167 |issue=SB20-167 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Priola |first2=Kevin |last3=Hansen |first3=Chris}}</ref> |
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SB20-055 'Incentivize Development Recycling End Markets' is proposed legislation that would expand market mechanisms and incentivize recycling, helping reduce trash quantity and will increase manufacturing jobs in Adams County. This bill became a law on July 13, 2020<ref>{{Citation |last=Arndt |first=Jeni James |title=Incentivize Development Recycling End Markets |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-055 |issue=SB20-055 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Cutter |first2=Lisa |last3=Story |first3=Tammy |last4=Priola |first4=Kevin}}</ref> |
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SB20-112 'College Trust Scholarship for Early Graduation' is proposed legislation that would create a college trust scholarship for students who graduate early from Colorado public high schools, increasing resources for K-12 education while also helping Colorado students pay for college<ref>{{Citation |last=Buentello |first=Bri |title=College Trust Scholarship For Early Graduation |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-112 |issue=SB20-112 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Priola |first2=Kevin}}</ref> |
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SB20-028 'Substance Use Disorder Recovery' is proposed legislation that creates measures to assist an individual's recovery from a substance use disorder and will help Coloradans battle its' substance use issue. With some amendments, this bill was signed on June 30, 2020<ref>{{Citation |last=Herod |first=Leslie |title=Substance Use Disorder Recovery |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb20-028 |issue=SB20-028 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Buentello |first2=Bri |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin |last4=Pettersen |first4=Brittany}}</ref> |
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HB20-1189 'Tax Credit Donation Human Trafficking Victims' is proposed legislation that creates an income tax credit to a nonprofit organization that assists victims of human trafficking<ref>{{Citation |last=Priola |first=Kevin |title=Tax Credit Donation Human Trafficking Victims |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb20-1189 |issue=HB20-1189 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Bockenfeld |first2=Rod}}</ref> |
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HB20-1103 'Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage' is proposed legislation that requires health insurance carriers to provide preventive health insurance coverage for colorectal screenings<ref>{{Citation |last=Priola |first=Kevin |title=Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb20-1103 |issue=HB20-1103 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Fields |first2=Rhonda |last3=Will |first3=Perry |last4=Buckner |first4=Janet}}</ref> |
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HB19-1076 'Clean Indoor Air Act' is legislation Kevin passed in 2019 that modernized the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act by adding provisions regarding the use of electronic smoking devices<ref>{{Citation |last=Donovan |first=Kerry |title=Clean Indoor Air Act Add E-cigarettes Remove Exceptions |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1076 |issue=HB19-1076 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Priola |first2=Kevin |last3=Larson |first3=Colin |last4=Jenet |first4=Dafna Michaelson}}</ref> |
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SRC19-003 'Replace Motor Fuel Taxes with Additional Sales Tax' is legislation Kevin worked on in 2019 that would replace state taxes on gasoline, effectively lowering gas prices<ref>{{Citation |last=Gray |first=Matt |title=Replace Motor Fuel Taxes With Additional Sales Tax |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/scr19-003 |issue=SCR19-003 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Priola |first2=Kevin}}</ref> |
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SB18-200 'Modifications to PERA to Eliminate Unfunded Liability' is legislation Kevin passed in 2018 that eliminated unfunded liability within the public employees' retirement association<ref>{{Citation |last=Pabon |first=Dan |title=Modifications To PERA Public Employees' Retirement Association To Eliminate Unfunded Liability |url=https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb18-200 |issue=SB18-200 |access-date=2022-05-03 |last2=Becker |first2=K. C. |last3=Priola |first3=Kevin |last4=Tate |first4=Jack}}</ref> |
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HB15-1215 'In State Tuition for Dependents of Military Members' is legislation Kevin passed in 2015 that provided in state tuition fees for higher education to men or women who were dependent on their parent or guardian that has served or is serving in the military<ref>{{Cite web |title=HB 15-1215 - Colorado 2015 Regular Session |url=https://openstates.org/co/bills/2015A/HB15-1215/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=Open States |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Electoral history== |
==Electoral history== |
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Revision as of 19:34, 3 May 2022
Kevin Priola | |
|---|---|
| File:KevinPriola.png | |
| Member of the Colorado Senate from the 25th district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Hodge |
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives | |
| In office January 9, 2013 – January 11, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Christine Scanlan |
| Succeeded by | Philip Covarrubias |
| Constituency | 56th district |
| In office January 14, 2009 – January 9, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Hodge |
| Succeeded by | Jenise May |
| Constituency | 30th District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brighton, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michelle |
| Children | 4 |
Kevin Priola is an American politician who serves in the Colorado Senate from the 25th district as a member of the Republican Party. 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.
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 following an unsuccessful attempt to remove him. He was elected to the state senate in the 2016 election.
Early life
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.[1][2][3]
Career
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.[4] He defeated Democratic nominee Laura Huerta in the 2010 election.[5] He defeated Democratic nominee Rose and Libertarian nominee Will Hiltscher in the 2012 election.[6][7] He defeated Democratic nominee Vicki A. Snider and Libertarian nominee Chris Baerns in the 2014 election.[8][9]
Priola ran for a seat in the Colorado Senate from the 25th district and defeated Democratic nominee Jenise May in the 2016 election.[10][11] He defeated Democratic nominee Paula Dickerson in the 2020 election.[12][13] He overperformed Donald Trump by over ten percent in the 2020 election.[14]
He served as a whip during his tenure in the state house, but resigned from his position after Representative Chris Holbert unsuccessfully attempted to have him removed from the position due to Priola not supporting a Republican amendment to legislation.[15][16][17] During his tenure in the state senate he served on the Business, Labor and Technology, and Education committees.[2] He was considered as a possible running mate for Walker Stapleton in the 2018 gubernatorial election, but Lang Sias was selected instead.[18]
Political positions
Priola 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.[19] 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.[20]
He co-sponsored legislation to repeal the death penalty, and at one point he was the only Republican supporter, stating that he opposes capital punishment due to his Catholic beliefs and how it disproportionately targets black people.[21][1] He voted in favor of reducing the sentence of felony murder from life in prison without parole to a maximum of forty-eight years.[22]
He and Senator Brittany Pettersen created legislation to allow for supervised injection sites to combat the opioid epidemic.[23] 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.[24]
Priola sponsored legislation in 2014 that would prohibit abortions, except in the case of the mother's life, and make it a class three felony.[25] He received an F rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[26]
He supported anti-LGBT religious-exemption legislation.[27] 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.[28] He voted in favor of legislation to prohibit gay conversion therapy.[29] He cosponsored legislation to make HIV prevention drugs available without the need of a prescription.[30]
He called for President Trump to be removed from office after the 2021 United States Capitol attack through either the 25th amendment or impeachment.[31] He 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 unsuccessfully amendments to the resolution thanking the Capitol Hill attackers and to decertify the 2020 presidential election.[32][33]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola | 1,579 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 1,579 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola | 11,936 | 50.92% | ||
| Democratic | Dave Rose | 11,505 | 49.08% | ||
| Total votes | 23,441 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 2,912 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 2,912 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 10,612 | 60.49% | ||
| Democratic | Laura Huerta | 6,931 | 39.51% | ||
| Total votes | 17,543 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 4,064 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 4,064 | 100.00% | |||
| 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% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 5,894 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 5,894 | 100.00% | |||
| 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% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola | 4,743 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 4,743 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola | 30,074 | 52.07% | ||
| Democratic | Jenise May | 27,678 | 47.93% | ||
| Total votes | 57,752 | 100.00% | |||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 11,135 | 100.00% | ||
| Total votes | 11,135 | 100.00% | |||
| 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
- ^ a b "Lone Republican Supporter of Death Penalty Repeal on Faith, Colleagues". Westword. March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
- ^ a b "Kevin Priola". Colorado Republican Party. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022.
- ^ "Kevin Priola biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "2012 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "2014 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "2016 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on October 21, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "2020 General Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "What happened to the Colorado Republican Party?". The Denver Post. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "House GOP coup against Rep. Priola fails". Colorado Politics. April 13, 2014. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Stapleton picks Rep. Lang Sias as GOP running mate". Colorado Politics. July 11, 2018. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Colorado Legislature Removes Ban on Affordable-Housing Requirements". Westword. May 4, 2021. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Bill moving fast to curb Colorado landlords' questions about immigration status". Colorado Politics. June 11, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Death Penalty Repeal Bill Passes First Legislative Step". Westword. January 28, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022.
- ^ "Lee's felony murder bill wins state Senate approval". Colorado Politics. March 31, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Statewide Supervised Use Site Bill Might Not Happen This Session". Westword. February 4, 2019. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Kevin Priola". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Conservative Utah looks to ban conversion therapy, following Colorado". Colorado Politics. November 27, 2019. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "Senate approves bills making HIV prevention prescription-free". Colorado Politics. June 7, 2020. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.