# Brandon Shaffer
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{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name=Brandon Shaffer
| image=Brandon_Shaffer_Portrait.jpg
| office=[President of the Colorado Senate](/source/Colorado_Senate)
| term_start=May 6, 2009
| term_end=January 2013
| preceded=[Peter Groff](/source/Peter_Groff)
| succeeded=[John Morse](/source/John_Morse_(Colorado_legislator))
| state_senate2=Colorado
| state2=Colo
| district2=[17th](/source/Colorado's_17th_Senate_district)
| term_start2=January 2005
| term_end2=January 2013
| succeeded2 = [Matt Jones](/source/Matt_Jones_(American_politician))
| birth_date={{birth date and age|1971|03|22}}
| birth_place=[Denver, Colorado](/source/Denver%2C_Colorado), U.S.
| profession=Attorney
| party=[Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
|}}
'''Brandon Shaffer''' (born March 22, 1971) is the former President of the [Colorado State Senate](/source/Colorado_State_Senate). He represented [Senate District 17](/source/Colorado's_17th_Senate_district), which encompasses the cities of [Longmont](/source/Longmont%2C_Colorado), [Lafayette](/source/Lafayette%2C_Colorado), [Erie](/source/Erie%2C_Colorado), and [Louisville](/source/Louisville%2C_Colorado). Shaffer, a lifelong Democrat, was first elected as a State Senator in November 2004, and was reelected in 2008. Following the resignation of Senate President [Peter Groff](/source/Peter_Groff) in 2009, Shaffer was elected to the post, while Senator [John Morse](/source/John_Morse_(Colorado_legislator)) (D-Colorado Springs) became Majority Leader.
Shaffer was the Democratic nominee for Colorado's 4th Congressional District in 2012, but lost to then incumbent Republican [Cory Gardner](/source/Cory_Gardner) in the [general election](/source/general_election).[{{cite web |url=http://www.journal-advocate.com/sterling-local_news/ci_18430768 |title=Brandon Shaffer stops in Sterling day after announcing congressional bid |author= Callie Jones|date= 7 July 2011 |work= Sterling Journal Advocate|publisher= |accessdate=8 July 2011}}][{{cite web|last=Gentry|first=Weston|title=Gardner holds off challenger to retain Colorado's 4th district Read more: Gardner holds off challenger to retain Colorado's 4th district - The Denver Post|url=http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21941960/gardner-hopes-hold-off-shaffer-battle-colorados-4th|work=denverpost.com|accessdate=1 January 2013}}]
==Early life, education and military career==
Brandon Shaffer was born on March 22, 1971, in [Denver](/source/Denver) and graduated from East High School in 1989, having served as the "Head Boy" and Student Body President. After graduation Shaffer attended [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University) which he paid for with a [Navy ROTC](/source/Navy_ROTC) scholarship. Shaffer earned a bachelor's degree in political science, and also participated in the Stanford-in-Government program. While involved in the program, Shaffer worked as an intern for Colorado Governor [Roy Romer](/source/Roy_Romer) as well as the [Commission on National and Community Service](/source/Commission_on_National_and_Community_Service) in Washington, D.C. Shaffer graduated with honors in 1993. After college Shaffer was commissioned into active duty in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy). After spending a year in San Diego, he was deployed to [Yokosuka](/source/Yokosuka_(city)), [Japan](/source/Japan). While there, Shaffer served aboard the [USS ''Hewitt'' (DD-966)](/source/USS_Hewitt_(DD-966)) as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Deck Division Officer and Navigator. It was in Japan that he met his wife, elementary school teacher, Jessica Clark.[{{cite web|url=http://www.brandonshaffer.net/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328125630/http://www.brandonshaffer.net/about/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 March 2010|title=About|work=BrandonShaffer.net|accessdate=8 July 2011}}]
==Political career==
Shaffer left the navy in 1997 and returned to the United States in 1998. During his final year in Japan he became a substitute teacher and taught English to Japanese students at a local [YMCA](/source/YMCA). Once he returned he was accepted into law school at the [University of Colorado](/source/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder). Shaffer became involved in Colorado politics in 2000 as the [Get Out The Vote](/source/Get_Out_The_Vote) coordinator for [Boulder County](/source/Boulder_County). Shaffer graduated from law school in 2001. Following graduation, Shaffer continued his political career serving as the Boulder County Get out the Vote coordinator again in 2002. In November 2004 Shaffer ran a successful State Senate campaign against Republican candidate [Sandy Hume](/source/Sandy_Hume), and libertarian candidate Bo Shaffer for Colorado's District 17.