Top Colorado Senate Democrat resigns, citing low legislative pay

Dafna Michaelson Jenet is leaving the legislature to take a job at a nonprofit, saying serving as a state lawmaker has become a financial hardship for her family.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Dafna Michaelson Jenet, the Senate President Pro Tempore in Colorado and a Democrat from Commerce City, announced she is resigning from the legislature to take a job at the David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism. Michaelson Jenet, who has spent nearly a decade in the legislature fighting for sexual assault survivors and improving mental health care, said serving as a state lawmaker has become too big a financial hardship for her family, with lawmakers earning about $45,000 per year for what is supposed to be a part-time job.

Why it matters

Michaelson Jenet's resignation highlights the challenges of serving in state legislatures, which are often considered part-time positions but require a full-time commitment. Her departure also comes as more than a quarter of Colorado's state lawmakers have been appointed to their seats through vacancy committees, rather than winning elections outright.

The details

Michaelson Jenet, one of the few Jewish state lawmakers in Colorado, will lead an initiative at the David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism, combating antisemitism across the country. She said the decision to leave the legislature was a difficult one, but that her family has "struggled over these last 10 years" with her legislative salary, which is well below her earning potential. Michaelson Jenet was first elected to the state House in 2016 and was appointed to the Senate in 2023, winning election to a full term in 2024.

  • Michaelson Jenet announced her resignation on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
  • Her last day in the legislature will be this Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Michaelson Jenet will start her new job at the David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism next week.

The players

Dafna Michaelson Jenet

A Democratic state senator from Commerce City who has served in the Colorado legislature for nearly a decade, fighting for sexual assault survivors and improving mental health care access.

David Merage Foundation for Confronting Antisemitism

A local nonprofit organization that Michaelson Jenet will be joining to lead an initiative combating antisemitism across the country.

James Coleman

The Democratic president of the Colorado Senate, whom Michaelson Jenet stood in for as president pro tempore.

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What they’re saying

“It was a heavy decision, and there were a lot of factors — not the least of which is my family has struggled over these last 10 years that I have been in the legislature and earning well beneath my capabilities. That's really taken a hit on my family.”

— Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Outgoing Colorado state senator (The Colorado Sun)

“Dafna has been an incredible leader for the Coloradans she represents, both in the state House and state Senate, and has championed the issues that matter most to her constituents. I wish her the best in this next chapter and know she will continue giving back to her community and her state.”

— Jared Polis, Governor of Colorado (The Colorado Sun)

What’s next

A Democratic vacancy committee in Senate District 21 will appoint someone to replace Michaelson Jenet at the Capitol for the rest of the year. Voters will then get a chance in November to select who serves out the remaining two years of her term.

The takeaway

Michaelson Jenet's resignation highlights the ongoing challenges of serving in state legislatures, which are often considered part-time positions but require a full-time commitment. Her departure also comes as a growing number of Colorado lawmakers have been appointed to their seats through vacancy committees rather than winning elections outright.