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Janice Rich

Janice Rich is a state senator from Grand Junction, Colorado. A Republican, rich represents Colorado's 7th Senate district which includes all of Mesa County and a portion of Delta County.[2] Previously, Rich represented Colorado House of Representatives District 55, which included the communities of Clifton, Fruitvale, Grand Junction, Orchard Mesa, and Redlands on Colorado's Western Slope.[3]

Background

Janice Rich was born in Midlothian, Texas.[4]

Rich is a certified professional legal secretary. In 2003, Rich became Mesa County Clerk until 2010.[4] Rich worked for over twenty years as a legal secretary and as a court clerk prior to holding her first elected office. Rich also owned and operated a secretarial and business support service.[5]

Rich and her husband Steve live in Grand Junction, Colorado.[4]

Political Career

Rich was first elected to public office in 2003 where she served as the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder for two terms. Rich served as the Mesa County Treasurer from 2010 to 2018.[6]

Rich was elected to represent the 55th House District in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2018. She was reelected to the seat in 2020.

Rich was elected to represent Colorado's 7th Senate district in 2022. Rich currently serves as the Senate Republican caucus chair.[7]

Electoral history

2014 Mesa County Treasurer election[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Rich 46,876 100.00%
Total votes 46,876 100%
Republican hold

Rich was first elected as a state representative in the 2018 general elections. In that election, she defeated her Democratic Party opponent, winning 62.64% of the vote.[9][4]

2018 Colorado House of Representatives election, 55th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Rich 22,470 62.64%
Democratic Tanya Travis 13,401 37.36%
Total votes 35,871 100%
Republican hold

Rich was re-elected in the 2020 general election, defeating two opponents, one from the Democratic Party and one from the Green Party.[10]

2020 Colorado House of Representatives election, 55th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Rich (incumbent) 30,773 64.07%
Democratic Scott Beilfuss 15,570 32.42%
Green Sierra Garcia 1,688 3.51%
Total votes 48,031 100%
Republican hold

In August 2021, Rich announced her candidacy for a seat in the Colorado Senate. Specifically, she ran to represent the newly reapportioned Senate District 7, which includes all of Mesa County and a portion of Delta County.[2] In the election, Rich defeated her Democratic Party opponent, winning 70.06% of the total votes cast.[11]

2022 Colorado Senate election, 7th District
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Janice Rich 52,696 70.06%
Democratic David Stahlke 22,520 29.94%
Total votes 75,216 100%
Republican hold

References

  1. ^ "About".
  2. ^ a b Ashby, Charles (August 18, 2021). "Rich announces bid for state Senate". The Daily Sentinel. Grand Junction, Colorado. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  3. ^ Colorado Reapportionment Commission Staff (December 22, 2011). "Legislative District Information After 2011 Reapportionment House District 55" (PDF). State of Colorado. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 1, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Janice Rich's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "About". Janice Rich House District 55. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Colorado House District 55 candidate Q&A". The Denver Post. October 10, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  7. ^ "Senate Republicans Elect New Leadership, Welcome New Senators". Colorado Senate Republicans. November 7, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
  8. ^ Shelia Reiner (November 24, 2014). "Mesa County Election Results". Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  9. ^ "Colorado election results, November 6, 2018, 2018 General Election". Colorado Secretary of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "2020 abstract of votes cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. State of Colorado. n.d. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  11. ^ "Colorado election results: November 8, 2022, general election state senate district 7". Colorado Secretary of State. State of Colorado. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.