{{Short description|American politician (born 1951)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Evie Hudak |image = Senator_Evie_Hudak.jpeg |state_senate = Colorado |district = 19th |term_start = January 7, 2009 |term_end = November 27, 2013 |preceded = Sue Windels |succeeded = Rachel Zenzinger |office2 = Member of the Colorado State Board of Education from the 2nd district |term_start2 = 2001 |term_end2 = 2009 |preceded2 = Patti Johnson<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 4, 2001 |title=Know Your Boardmembers |work=Westword |url=https://www.westword.com/news/know-your-boardmembers-5065306 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511115034/https://www.westword.com/news/know-your-boardmembers-5065306 |archive-date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> |succeeded2 = Angelika Schroeder |birth_name = |birth_date = 1951 |birth_place = New York City, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = Edward Hudak |children = 1 |education = |signature = Evie Hudak signature.svg }}
'''Evie Hudak''' (born 1951) is an American politician who served in the Colorado Senate from the 19th district as a member of the Democratic Party from 2009 to 2013. Prior to her tenure in the state senate she served on the Colorado State Board of Education from the 2nd congressional district from 2001 to 2009.
Hudak was born in New York City, and later worked at ''Westword''. She unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the state house in the 1994 election, but lost to Republican nominee Mark Paschall. She was elected and reelected to the state board of education in 2000 and 2006. Hudak was elected to the state senate in the 2008 election and her reelection in the 2012 election was attributed to a spoiler candidate. She resigned in 2013 rather than face a recall election and was replaced by Rachel Zenzinger.
==Early life and education==
Evie Hudak was born in New York City in 1951. She married Edward Hudak, with whom she had one child.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Evie Hudak's Biography |work=Vote Smart |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/106400/evie-hudak |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510155557/https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/106400/evie-hudak |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> She has a bachelor of Arts degree in English and education.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 31, 2006 |title=Evie Hudak |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/10/31/evie-hudak/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510170808/https://www.denverpost.com/2006/10/31/evie-hudak/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> She worked as the listings editor for ''Westword''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 27, 2013 |title=Update: Evie Hudak will resign Colorado Senate seat |work=Westword |url=https://www.westword.com/news/update-evie-hudak-will-resign-colorado-senate-seat-5825097 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510160006/https://www.westword.com/news/update-evie-hudak-will-resign-colorado-senate-seat-5825097 |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
==Career== ===Early politics===
Hudak ran for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 29th district with the Democratic nomination in the 1994 election, but lost to Republican nominee Mark Paschall and placed ahead of independent candidate Joanne Conte.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1994 |title=GOP expands dominance in Legislature |page=17 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101595853/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510152341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101595853/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="election 1994">{{Cite news |title=1994 Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/1900-1999/1994AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524045315/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/1900-1999/1994AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}</ref> She was elected to a seat on the Colorado State Board of Education from the 2nd congressional district with the Democratic nomination in the 2000 election against Republican nominee Ron J. Marquez.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 1, 2001 |title=Big-spending Polis may have short term on ed board |page=18 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101596157/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510152954/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101596157/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="election 2000">{{Cite news |title=2000 Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2000AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511043656/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2000AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> She was reelected without opposition in the 2006 election.<ref name="election 2006">{{Cite news |title=2006 Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2006AbsractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401005901/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2006AbsractBook.pdf |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}</ref> Angelika Schroeder was selected to replace her on the Board of Election after Hudak was elected to the Colorado Senate in the 2008 election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2008 |title=State school board seat gets filled |page=11 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101596314/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510153232/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101596314/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 26, 2008 |title=Woman chosen to fill vacant education board seat |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/12/26/woman-chosen-to-fill-vacant-education-board-seat/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510170238/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/12/26/woman-chosen-to-fill-vacant-education-board-seat/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> Hudak supported Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 27, 2008 |title=Emotional reaction to Clinton move |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/08/27/emotional-reaction-to-clinton-move/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510171319/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/08/27/emotional-reaction-to-clinton-move/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
===Colorado Senate===
Senator Sue Windels, a member of the state senate from the 19th district, was term-limited during the 2008 election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 9, 2008 |title=The Post's picks for state Senate |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/09/the-posts-picks-for-state-senate-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510171106/https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/09/the-posts-picks-for-state-senate-2/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> Hudak won the Democratic nomination without opposition and defeated Republican nominee Libby Szabo in the general election.<ref name="election 2008">{{Cite news |title=2008 Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018203144/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2008AbstractBook.pdf |archive-date=October 18, 2020 |access-date=May 11, 2022 }}</ref> She defeated Republican nominee Lang Sias and Libertarian nominee Lloyd A. Sweeny in the 2012 election.<ref name="primary 2012">{{Cite news |title=2012 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510165648/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref><ref name="election 2012">{{Cite news |title=2012 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/senate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510165743/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2012/general/senate.html |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> Sweeny was considered a spoiler candidate as Hudak won with a plurality of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 2012 |title=Libertarian influences outcome of Senate race |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2012/11/09/libertarian-influences-outcome-of-senate-race/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510165058/https://www.denverpost.com/2012/11/09/libertarian-influences-outcome-of-senate-race/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
In 2013, Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron were defeated in recall elections organized by gun rights activists. A recall was being organized against Hudak due to her support of gun control legislation. She resigned on November 27, stating that she was doing it to protect the gun control legislation as if she had lost the recall election it would allow the Republicans to gain control of the state senate. She also stated that she resigned in order for $200,000 to not be spent on a recall election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2013 |title=Colorado lawmakers resigns to avoid recall |page=A8 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598610/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510161406/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598610/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 28, 2013 |title=Senator resigns over gun laws |page=1 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598650/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510161459/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598650/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Representative Tracy Kraft-Tharp initially ran to be appointed to replace Hudak, but dropped out and endorsed former Representative Sara Gagliardi.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 29, 2013 |title=Field of Democrats vying for Evie Hudak's seat narrows to two |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/29/field-of-democrats-vying-for-evie-hudaks-seat-narrows-to-two/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510163834/https://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/29/field-of-democrats-vying-for-evie-hudaks-seat-narrows-to-two/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> Rachel Zenzinger was selected by the vacancy committee on December 10 to replace Hudak.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 11, 2013 |title=Zenzinger to fill seat of resigned senator |page=A2 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598821/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510161741/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101598821/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Later life==
Hudak served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention for Hillary Clinton from the 7th congressional district during the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 19, 2016 |title=Bernie Sanders campaign gets another win in Colorado |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/04/19/bernie-sanders-campaign-gets-another-win-in-colorado/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510162336/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/04/19/bernie-sanders-campaign-gets-another-win-in-colorado/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref> She endorsed Andrew Romanoff for the Democratic nomination during the 2020 United States Senate election.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 28, 2019 |title=Hundreds of current, former elected officials endorse Andrew Romanoff in U.S. Senate primary |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/hundreds-of-current-former-elected-officials-endorse-andrew-romanoff-in-u-s-senate-primary/article_0f8aa952-8185-11e9-b6e8-67976a8d37b4.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510160513/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/hundreds-of-current-former-elected-officials-endorse-andrew-romanoff-in-u-s-senate-primary/article_0f8aa952-8185-11e9-b6e8-67976a8d37b4.html |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
==Political positions==
Hudak sponsored legislation to prohibit leg shackles and waist restraints on women in prison during childbirth.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 5, 2010 |title=Law would ban shackles during inmate childbirth |page=12 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101597142/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510154730/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101597142/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She and Senator Linda Newell sponsored legislation to end zero tolerance policies in schools and make mandatory expulsion only available when a student brought a gun to school.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 2, 2012 |title=School discipline overhaul moves ahead |page=6 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101597226/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510155016/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101597226/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 2009, the state senate voted seventeen to eighteen, with Hudak in favor, against repealing capital punishment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 6, 2009 |title=Colorado death penalty survives |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/05/06/colorado-death-penalty-survives/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510165947/https://www.denverpost.com/2009/05/06/colorado-death-penalty-survives/ |archive-date=May 10, 2022}}</ref>
==Electoral history==
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 1994 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district election<ref name="election 1994" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 684 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 684 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box candidate no change |party = |candidate = Blank |votes = 141 |percentage = |change = }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Mark Paschall |votes = 6,600 |percentage = 45.35% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 5,639 |percentage = 38.75% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Independent politician |candidate = Joanne Conte |votes = 2,313 |percentage = 15.89% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 14,552 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box candidate no change |party = |candidate = Blank |votes = 838 |percentage = |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2000 Colorado Board of Education 2nd district election<ref name="election 2000" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 14,429 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 14,429 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 144,965 |percentage = 55.14% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Doug Townsend |votes = 117,953 |percentage = 44.86% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 262,918 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box candidate no change |party = |candidate = Undervote |votes = 117,953 |percentage = |change = 37,456 }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2006 Colorado Board of Education 2nd district election<ref name="election 2006" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak (incumbent) |votes = 21,249 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 21,249 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak (incumbent) |votes = 167,024 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 167,024 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2008 Colorado Senate 19th district election<ref name="election 2008" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 6,689 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 6,689 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak |votes = 31,740 |percentage = 51.00% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Libby Szabo |votes = 30,495 |percentage = 49.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 62,235 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2012 Colorado Senate 19th district election<ref name="primary 2012" /><ref name="election 2012" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak (incumbent) |votes = 5,684 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 5,684 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Evie Hudak (incumbent) |votes = 35,664 |percentage = 47.02% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Lang Sias |votes = 35,080 |percentage = 46.25% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Lloyd A. Sweeny |votes = 5,104 |percentage = 6.73% |change = }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 75,848 |percentage = 100.00% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hudak, Evie}} Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators Category:Women state legislators in Colorado Category:American gun control activists Category:1951 births Category:School board members in Colorado Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly