Freshman state representative from metro Denver resigns, citing “sensationalistic and vitriolic” politics

A freshman member of the Colorado House cited the difficult “political environment” for her decision Friday to step down, just a year after she was elected.

State Rep. Ruby Dickson, a Greenwood Village Democrat and rising star in the majority party, announced her resignation, effective Dec. 11.

“While I’m proud of our legislative accomplishments, it has recently become clear that the sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family,” Dickson wrote in a letter to the House’s chief clerk.

She also thanked her constituents and called her time in office “the honor of my life.”

Dickson did not immediately return a request for an interview.

House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, praised Dickson in a statement soon after her announcement, calling her “a brilliant champion for working families.” McCluskie did not return a request for comment about Dickson’s cited reason for resigning.

Dickson won her seat in November 2022 with 56% of the vote. In the days before the special session last month, she told housing advocates that she was working on legislation for early 2024 to address parking regulations amid the broader push by Democratic legislators to reform land use codes.

She would have faced reelection next November. Her seat will be filled by a vacancy committee in the coming weeks.

Staff writer Seth Klamann contributed to this story.

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