Now that Colorado Senate President and DLCC board member Peter Groff has earned a well-deserved appointment to President Obama’s Department of Education, Colorado Democrats have acted quickly to choose new leadership – effective upon Sen. Groff’s departure at the end of the legislative session.

Current Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer, representing Longview, was unanimously chosen to follow Sen. Groff as Senate President, while Colorado Springs Sen. John Morse will replace Shaffer as Majority Leader.

In accepting the appointment, Sen. Shaffer offered a tribute to the outgoing President:

Shaffer said he was "humbled" by being elected president, and he thanked Groff for his service.

"You're an inspiration to all of us, the way you carry yourself, the confidence you project," Shaffer said. "You are able to articulate the way I feel about issues, hit the right tones, hit just the right notes, when we are talking about issues that matter."

Sen. Morse, for his part, will be making history as the first Democrat from Colorado Springs ever to hold a leadership post in the State Senate. Sen. Morse’s rise in the state’s toughest Republican stronghold illustrates the broad and dramatic gains Colorado Democrats have made over the last several cycles.

Both new leaders have promised to forge a pragmatic governing style that focuses on how best to meet the needs of Coloradans. All of us at the DLCC wish them luck in their new positions.