While the smile and geniality reflect a natural affability—which she genuinely owns—when necessary, she can be an immovable object, especially when it comes to representing both her values and the those for whom she speaks.
Crisanta Duran takes no prisoners when the situation calls for drawing the line and standing firm on principle.
Duran, the first Latina to serve as Colorado’s Speaker of the House, is running for Colorado Attorney General. It’s a challenge, she understands. But not a challenge longtime friends and political foes know she’s not prepared to take head on.
Duran, a Colorado native, graduated from the University of Denver and earned her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. She later served as counsel for the United Food and Commercial Workers, the union that represents grocery store workers and meat cutters.
Before serving as Democratic leader of the state House, Duran also represented west Denver in the same body.
But serving as both union counsel and representing her party, Duran burnished a compassion whose foundation was formed early on.
Her father, Ernie, instilled in her the rock-solid values of fairness and equality that made her successful in leading her party in the state legislature.
It is also the foundation on which she is basing her campaign. “I believe strongly that it’s incumbent on Democrats to bridge divides and deliver real solutions,” for the people of Colorado.
Even though she led her party—often in difficult times—and delivered a number of legislative victories, she knows serving as Colorado Attorney General will present a whole new set of challenges. “The office is uniquely positioned to ensure that there are fair and just outcomes to issues that impact the people of Colorado,” she said in a recent interview with LaVozColorado.
As Attorney General, Duran said, the first responsibility of the office is to “uphold the Constitution and rule of law.” But she also knows the job goes well beyond that.
“How do we get to the root causes of struggles and challenges that people face,” she asked. “We need new pathways,” things that address consumer rights, Duran said. “We need to listen to people’s perspectives…it really starts from understanding the real-life struggles of Colorado (people) and developing new solutions.”
With current Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, leaving the office and running for Colorado Governor, the race to succeed him will continue to grow. To date, current Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswald, former Department of Justice attorney Hetal Doshi, consumer rights attorney David Seligman and Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty—all Democrats—have announced. Connor Pennington, little known outside his party, is so far the only Republican in the race.
If elected, Duran will be only the third woman to hold the office. Democrat Gale Norton and Republican Cynthia Coffman have served as Colorado Attorney General. But Duran would become only the second Hispanic to hold the office. Former Ambassador to Mexico and Colorado U.S. Senator and cabinet member, Ken Salazar, held the office. Salazar was also the first Latino to be elected to a statewide office as attorney general.
Though Duran is best known as a state legislator, her tradition of hard work goes back to a much earlier part of her life. Her resume might reflect a political pedigree, but it belies the fact that she has worked shoulder to shoulder with the bluest of blue collars as well as those who sit significantly higher up the labor ladder.
Duran’s biography tells how she once sold shoes at the now shuttered Westminster Mall; served and bussed tables in restaurants; was the point person—receptionist—in a hair salon and a childcare center and delivered newspapers.
Moving away from azure-tinted jobs and into white collar vocations, Duran also worked for Colorado Supreme Court Justice, Alex Martinez and, armed with her law degree, advocated for card-carrying union members in the food industry.
Duran’s legislative experience, nearly a decade, from 2011 to 2019, was not only serving in leadership as House Speaker, but also on the state Joint Budget Committee, the committee that determines how the state’s money will be spent.
Because the clock ticks faster in political time than in so many other fields—the next election is 18 months away—Duran has not scheduled a summer vacation for herself and her young daughter. Instead, she said, “This summer is going to be filled with speaking with as many Coloradans as possible,” to share with them “what is at stake.”
“I plan to spend a significant amount of time knocking on doors, talking with people…learning what their ideas are.” She said she wants to convey to any and all voters that she understands exactly what a “shared commitment” is and how she wants to work with them to “strengthening our democracy.”
Because campaigns—especially statewide campaigns—have soared and continue to skyrocket in costs, Duran is not putting a figure on how much it will take to run her campaign. “It doesn’t cost anything to knock on doors or make phone calls,” she said.
But Duran has already picked up one big name endorsement in former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. Also, like Duran, the former three-term Denver chief executive, also served in the state legislature.
“In this election, she has not only the legal skills but also the experience for knowing what it takes to combat somebody like Donald Trump,” the former Colorado Speaker of the House said. “Not only that, but she will also fight to protect every citizen in Colorado because she knows first-hand what it means to fight discrimination.”
While Duran covets the Webb endorsement, there is one more equally as important, she said. “The endorsements that matter the most,” said Duran, “is from Coloradans who may not have the flashiest titles.”
It is still 18 months until the state’s next election, but Duran knows that her biggest investment between now and then may be in shoe leather. “I’ve traveled the state many times in elected office,” Duran shared. From now until November 2026, she’ll be doing it again or as the late Yogi Berra once opined, ‘it’ll be like déjà vu all over again.’
