{{For|the wrestler|Lucía Yépez}} {{Short description|American politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Lucía Guzmán |image = Lucía Guzmán.JPG |state_senate = Colorado |district = 34th |term_start = May 21, 2010 |term_end = January 4, 2019 |predecessor = Paula Sandoval |successor = Julie Gonzales |birth_name = |birth_date = {{circa|1945}} |birth_place = Texas, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |spouse = Martha Eubanks |children = |education = Sam Houston State University (BS) <br/> Iliff School of Theology (MS) |signature = }}
'''Lucía Guzmán''' (born 1945) is an American minister and politician who served in the Colorado Senate from the 34th district as a member of the Democratic Party from 2010 to 2019. Prior to her tenure in the state senate she served on the school board in Denver and led the Colorado Council of Churches.
Guzmán was born to farm workers from Mexico and educated at Sam Houston State University and the Iliff School of Theology. She became a minister in the United Methodist Church and led the Colorado Council of Churches before being elected to the school board. Mayor John Hickenlooper appointed her to manage the Agency for Human Rights.
She was appointed to replace Paula Sandoval in the state senate and served until she was term-limited in the 2018 election. During her tenure in the state senate she served as the Minority Leader until she resigned in protest of the Republican's handling of sexual harassment cases in the legislature.
==Early life==
Guzmán was born in Katy, Texas, in 1945, as one of nine children to farm workers from Mexico. Her father, Tomas Guzmán, was murdered at age seventy-three in 1975, during a gas station robbery. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Sam Houston State University. and a Master of Science in divinity from the Iliff School of Theology. She worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch from 1975 to 1983.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucia Guzman |work=University of Colorado Boulder |url=https://www.colorado.edu/center/west/lucia-guzman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183954/https://www.colorado.edu/center/west/lucia-guzman |archive-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref><ref name="life" /><ref name="life2" /><ref name="life3">{{Cite news |title=Lucia Guzman Papers |work=Denver Public Library |url=https://archives.denverlibrary.org/repositories/3/resources/6015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116001449/https://archives.denverlibrary.org/repositories/3/resources/6015 |archive-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref>
==Career== ===Local politics===
Guzmán became an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church in 1992. She led the Colorado Council of Churches from 1994 to 1999, and was the first Hispanic and woman to lead it. Guzmán left the council to run against Rita Montero for a seat on the Denver school board and served on it from 1999 to 2007. She was appointed by Mayor John Hickenlooper to manage the Agency for Human Rights. She is married to Martha Eubanks.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 15, 2021 |title=With Nature as Teacher, Former State Senator Lucía Guzmán Has Learned Well |work=The Denver North Star |url=https://www.denvernorthstar.com/with-nature-as-teacher-former-state-senator-lucia-guzman-has-learned-well/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113113826/https://www.denvernorthstar.com/with-nature-as-teacher-former-state-senator-lucia-guzman-has-learned-well/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 16, 1999 |title=Council of churches director to leave job |page=17 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502194/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183132/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502194/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="life3" />
===Colorado Senate=== ====Elections====
Paula Sandoval resigned from the Colorado Senate to serve on the Denver city council in 2010, and Guzmán was appointed to replace her.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 22, 2010 |title=Newest state senator sworn in |page=3 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502481/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183509/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502481/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She defeated Representative Joel Judd in the primary and won in the general election.<ref name="life2">{{Cite news |date=May 25, 2011 |title=Meet the Candidate: Lucia Guzman Runs for State Senate |work=HuffPost |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-the-candidate-lucia_b_571692 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115034046/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/meet-the-candidate-lucia_b_571692 |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> She was reelected in the 2014 election against Republican nominee Stuart Siffring and Libertarian nominee Brian Scriber.<ref name="primary 2014">{{Cite news |title=2014 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201074247/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/primary/democratic/stateSenate.html |archive-date=December 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name="election 2014">{{Cite news |title=2014 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/senate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115061544/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2014/general/senate.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> She was term-limited during the 2018 election and endorsed Julie Gonzales, who won in the general election, to succeed her.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 22, 2018 |title=Alan Kennedy-Shaffer makes the ballot in the race to succeed Lucia Guzman |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/alan-kennedy-shaffer-makes-the-ballot-in-the-race-to-succeed-lucia-guzman/article_9236641d-0f04-58eb-9743-19f859f72936.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115061116/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/alan-kennedy-shaffer-makes-the-ballot-in-the-race-to-succeed-lucia-guzman/article_9236641d-0f04-58eb-9743-19f859f72936.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=2018 General Election Results |work=Secretary of State of Colorado |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateSenate.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115063457/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/2018/general/stateSenate.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
====Tenure====
Guzmán served on the Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Judiciary committees.<ref>{{Cite news |title=State Senators |work=Colorado Democratic Party |url=https://coloradodems.org/meet-your-dem-officials/state-senators/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115063219/https://coloradodems.org/meet-your-dem-officials/state-senators/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> She replaced Senator Steve King as chair of the Legislative Audit committee while King faced felony charges.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 3, 2014 |title=King removed from legislative panel |page=3 |work=Grand Junction Daily Sentinel |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92270457/the-daily-sentinel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220110133503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92270457/the-daily-sentinel/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 }}</ref> She was a member of the LGBTQ caucus.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 24, 2018 |title=LGBTQ Coloradans to lobby the Colorado Capitol on Monday |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lgbtq-coloradans-to-lobby-the-colorado-capitol-on-monday/article_fa480f3b-cf55-52c8-8621-8bc61869217a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054927/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lgbtq-coloradans-to-lobby-the-colorado-capitol-on-monday/article_fa480f3b-cf55-52c8-8621-8bc61869217a.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> She supported Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries and 2016 primaries and Amy Klobuchar in the 2020 primaries.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 7, 2015 |title=Hillary rips Republicans, rallies Dems at Denver organizing event |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/hillary-rips-republicans-rallies-dems-at-denver-organizing-event/article_0c36c6f4-cf8e-58a0-8eb4-9d7c00697749.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115060156/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/hillary-rips-republicans-rallies-dems-at-denver-organizing-event/article_0c36c6f4-cf8e-58a0-8eb4-9d7c00697749.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 7, 2016 |title=Among top Colorado Democrats, gap remains on supporting Clinton |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/07/among-top-colorado-democrats-gap-remains-on-supporting-clinton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115053948/https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/07/among-top-colorado-democrats-gap-remains-on-supporting-clinton/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 25, 2020 |title=Colorado primary notebook: Klobuchar buys TV ads, Bernie backs DIA union workers |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/25/colorado-primary-amy-klobuchar-bernie-sanders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115034348/https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/25/colorado-primary-amy-klobuchar-bernie-sanders/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
In 2015, she was selected to replace Senator Morgan Carroll as the Minority Leader in the state senate after Carroll gave the position up so that she could run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives from the 6th congressional district.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 15, 2015 |title=Democrats Pick Sen. Guzman Of Denver As New Chamber Leader |work=KCNC-TV |url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/07/15/democrats-pick-sen-guzman-of-denver-as-new-chamber-leader/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114192452/https://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/07/15/democrats-pick-sen-guzman-of-denver-as-new-chamber-leader/ |archive-date=January 14, 2022}}</ref> She was the first Latina lesbian to serve as Minority Leader in the Colorado General Assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 2015 |title=Sens. Lucia Guzman, Jessie Ulibarri take Colorado's LGBT fight to national stage |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/09/29/sens-lucia-guzman-jessie-ulibarri-take-colorados-lgbt-fight-to-national-stage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115054308/https://www.denverpost.com/2015/09/29/sens-lucia-guzman-jessie-ulibarri-take-colorados-lgbt-fight-to-national-stage/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
She resigned her position as Minority Leader in protest of the Republican's handling of sexual harassment allegations against members of the state senate. She stated that the last straw was when the Republicans condemned Senator Daniel Kagan for demanding a floor debate on the conduct of Senator Randy Baumgardner. Guzmán and Senator Leroy Garcia switched positions with Garcia becoming Minority Leader while Guzmán became the assistant minority leader.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2018 |title=Colo. Senate minority leader steps down, cites misconduct |page=A6 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92602157/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115004733/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92602157/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 22, 2018 |title=Senate Democratic leader Guzman stepping down from top post |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/senate-democratic-leader-guzman-stepping-down-from-top-post/article_a1a52873-4193-5b14-9107-29b3d292aee7.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115003457/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/senate-democratic-leader-guzman-stepping-down-from-top-post/article_a1a52873-4193-5b14-9107-29b3d292aee7.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
==Political positions==
Guzmán introduced legislation to add homeless people to the list of protected categories in hate crime legislation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2011 |title=Homeless hate-crime bill passes hurdle |page=5 |work=Fort Collins Coloradoan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502658/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113183712/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92502658/fort-collins-coloradoan/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> She introduced legislation to abolish the death penalty in 2013.<ref name="life">{{Cite news |date=March 17, 2013 |title=Personal Stories Grip Lawmakers On Death Penalty |work=KCNC-TV |url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/03/17/personal-stories-grip-lawmakers-on-death-penalty/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113184451/https://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/03/17/personal-stories-grip-lawmakers-on-death-penalty/ |archive-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> She and nine other Democrats in the state senate were given a score of 100% from the AFL–CIO.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 16, 2018 |title=AFL-CIO's legislative scorecard: Dems do well; Republicans, not so much |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/afl-cios-legislative-scorecard-dems-do-well-republicans-not-so-much/article_3a29e3c8-4c97-5748-a6e6-2ba55e5b7369.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115060614/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/hot-sheet/afl-cios-legislative-scorecard-dems-do-well-republicans-not-so-much/article_3a29e3c8-4c97-5748-a6e6-2ba55e5b7369.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref>
She introduced and supported legislation to create same-sex civil unions and to prohibit conversion therapy on minors.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 26, 2015 |title=Colorado advocates cheer U.S. Supreme Court ruling for gay marriage |work=The Denver Post |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2015/06/26/colorado-advocates-cheer-u-s-supreme-court-ruling-for-gay-marriage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115040300/https://www.denverpost.com/2015/06/26/colorado-advocates-cheer-u-s-supreme-court-ruling-for-gay-marriage/ |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 2018 |title=Conversion therapy ban for LGBTQ minors passes Colorado House committee |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/conversion-therapy-ban-for-lgbtq-minors-passes-colorado-house-committee/article_40192f2b-39c4-5443-870f-0d9f0708df97.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055141/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/conversion-therapy-ban-for-lgbtq-minors-passes-colorado-house-committee/article_40192f2b-39c4-5443-870f-0d9f0708df97.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> Guzmán was among thirty-seven legislators who endorsed a letter in 2018, calling for Planned Parenthood to allow for their workers to form a union.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 13, 2018 |title=Lawmakers back Denver Planned Parenthood workers' union cause |work=Colorado Politics |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lawmakers-back-denver-planned-parenthood-workers-union-cause/article_5f4df23c-d39a-5e9c-a840-615bfc46a422.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115055418/https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/lawmakers-back-denver-planned-parenthood-workers-union-cause/article_5f4df23c-d39a-5e9c-a840-615bfc46a422.html |archive-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref> She received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Lucia Guzman |work=NARAL Pro-Choice America |url=https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/lucia-guzman/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507002857/https://naralcolorado.org/legislator/lucia-guzman/ |archive-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref>
==Electoral history==
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2010 Colorado Senate 34th district election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf|title=2010 Abstract of Votes Cast|website=Colorado Secretary of State|accessdate=1 April 2025|archive-date=April 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407025004/https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Results/Abstract/pdf/2000-2099/2010AbstractBook.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lucía Guzmán |votes = 6,402 |percentage = 61.93% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Joel Judd |votes = 3,936 |percentage = 38.07% }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 10,338 |percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lucía Guzmán |votes = 21,273 |percentage = 77.66% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Derec C. Shuler |votes = 6,121 |percentage = 22.34% }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 27,394 |percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change|title = 2014 Colorado Senate 34th district election<ref name="primary 2014" /><ref name="election 2014" />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lucía Guzmán (incumbent) |votes = 6,507 |percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 6,507 |percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box open primary general election no change}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lucía Guzmán (incumbent) |votes = 31,889 |percentage = 74.38% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Stuart Siffring |votes = 8,390 |percentage = 19.57% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Brian Scriber |votes = 2,592 |percentage = 6.05% }} {{Election box total no change |votes = 42,871 |percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://leg.colorado.gov/legislators/lucia-guzman Legislative homepage] *{{C-SPAN|103696}}
{{Authority control}} {{Wikiquote}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guzman, Lucia}} Category:1945 births Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Democratic Party Colorado state senators Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Colorado Category:Hispanic and Latino American women in politics Category:American lesbian politicians Category:Hispanic and Latino American LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Colorado Category:Living people Category:Politicians from Denver Category:Women state legislators in Colorado