(Colorado Newsline) Chad Clifford will represent Colorado’s House District 37 during the lawmaking term that starts next week, a group of local Democrats decided Wednesday night.

Clifford was selected on a 22-19 vote, beating educator Ashish Vaidya during the second round of voting. Kevin Biehl was eliminated during the first round of voting.

“I am excited to be part of something, even in such a vitriolic time at the Capitol,” he said during the virtual meeting.

“It’s just really crazy that the Democrats are fighting the Democrats in a building where it’s supposed to be a debate. It’s very important that everyone understands that the Legislature is a deliberative body,” he said. “It’s a very big difference between being a legislator and an activist, and I think that’s what I bring to the table — to bring legislation and to work through varying ideas and come up with solutions that really impact our district and our people.”

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The seat became vacant when former Rep. Ruby Dickson resigned immediately after November’s special session, citing the “sensationalistic and vitriolic nature” of the chamber.

Clifford is a registered lobbyist for the Colorado Rangers, a statewide shared police reserve force. He did not report any income from that job in 2023, according to records from the secretary of state. He volunteers as a police officer for the group.

Clifford also works as a government operations lead for the American Red Cross.

During a candidate forum ahead of the vacancy committee vote, Clifford said he supports a reform of Colorado’s construction defect law to make it more attractive for developers to construct high density housing, which will likely be part of a bill lawmakers consider this year. Increasing the supply of housing, he said, is a bigger priority than measures like rent control.

He was nominated by Sen. Tom Sullivan, a Centennial Democrat.

“This is a contentious seat. This is a seat that we’re going to have to work incredibly hard to keep it on the blue side, and Chad has already proven that he is working towards that goal,” Sullivan said.

The district includes Greenwood Village and parts of Centennial and has been represented by a Democrat since 2018. Dickson won the seat by 12 percentage points in 2022.

The Legislature reconvenes January 10. There will be one vacant seat when members start work, as Democrats will hold another vacancy committee meeting to replace former Rep. Said Sharbini in House District 31 January 18.

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