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Joe Neguse

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Joe Neguse
Official portrait, 2018
House Assistant Democratic Leader
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 20, 2024
LeaderHakeem Jeffries
Preceded byJim Clyburn
Chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
In office
January 3, 2021 – March 20, 2024
LeaderNancy Pelosi
Hakeem Jeffries
Preceded byDavid Cicilline
Succeeded byDebbie Dingell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byJared Polis
Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
In office
June 2015 – June 2017
GovernorJohn Hickenlooper
Preceded byBarbara Kelley
Succeeded byMarguerite Salazar
Personal details
Born (1984-05-13) May 13, 1984 (age 40)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAndrea Jimenez
Children2
EducationUniversity of Colorado, Boulder (BA, JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Neguse's voice
Neguse speaks on objections to the 2020 Electoral College Results
Recorded January 6, 2021

Joseph D. Neguse (/nəˈɡuːs/ nə-GOOSE;[1][2] born May 13, 1984) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district since 2019. The district is based in Boulder and includes many of Denver's northwestern suburbs, as well as Fort Collins. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a regent of the University of Colorado from 2008 to 2015.[3] Neguse is the first Eritrean-American elected to the United States Congress and Colorado's first black member of Congress.[4] Neguse has served as House assistant Democratic leader since 2024.[5]

Early life and education

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Neguse's parents immigrated to the United States from the Province of Eritrea in Ethiopia. They met while living in Bakersfield, California, where they married and had Joe and his younger sister.[6] The family moved to Colorado when he was six years old. After living in Aurora, Littleton, and Highlands Ranch, the family settled in Boulder.[7] Neguse graduated from ThunderRidge High School.[6] He then graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he served as student body president,[8] with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics summa cum laude in 2005 and then from the University of Colorado Law School, with his Juris Doctor in 2009.[9]

Earlier career

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While he was a student, Neguse founded New Era Colorado, an organization to get young people involved in politics. He worked at the Colorado State Capitol as an assistant to Andrew Romanoff when Romanoff was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives. In 2008 Neguse was elected to the Regents of the University of Colorado, representing Colorado's 2nd congressional district,[10] becoming the second African American in Colorado history to serve on the Board of Regents.

Neguse ran for Secretary of State of Colorado in 2014,[11][12][13] losing to Wayne W. Williams, 47.5% to 44.9%.[14] In June 2015, Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Neguse the executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA),[15] making him one of the youngest state cabinet officials in the country.

At DORA, Neguse led an agency with roughly 600 employees and a $100 million budget charged with protecting consumers across the state by regulating the financial securities and insurance industries.

In 2017, Neguse resigned from DORA to run in the 2018 elections for the United States House of Representatives in Colorado's 2nd congressional district, seeking to succeed Jared Polis, who successfully ran for governor of Colorado.[16] He also joined the law firm Snell & Wilmer, working in administrative law.[17]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Elections

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2018

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See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 2

On June 13, 2017, Neguse announced he would run for the Democratic nomination after incumbent U.S. Representative Jared Polis announced he would not run for reelection and would run for governor of Colorado.[18][19] In the June 26, 2018, Democratic primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic district—Neguse faced businessman and former Boulder County Democratic Party chairman Mark Williams.[20] Neguse defeated Williams with 65.7% of the vote, winning all 10 counties in the district.[21][22]

Neguse then defeated the Republican nominee, businessman Peter Yu, in the November 6 general election, receiving 60.2% of the vote, and winning all but two counties.[23][24] Neguse became the first Black American to represent Colorado in the House.[25][26]

2020

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See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 2

He was reelected in 2020 with 61.5% of the vote, defeating Republican Charles Winn.[27]

2022

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See also: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 2

Neguse was reelected in 2022 with 70.7% of the vote, defeating Republican nominee Marshall Dawson.[28]

Tenure

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Neguse with President Joe Biden and members of the Congressional Black Caucus in the Oval Office in 2022.

Shortly after his election to the House, Neguse was elected by his House colleagues to serve in House leadership as the Co-Freshman Representative.[29]

Neguse voted for the impeachment of Donald Trump in 2019.[30] In 2020, he was named the most bipartisan member of the Colorado congressional delegation by the Lugar Center.[31]

In November 2020, Neguse's House colleagues unanimously elected him to serve as a co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, the number eight position in House Democratic leadership.[32] In December 2022, he was elected chair, the fifth-highest position in the Democratic Party leadership.[33]

On January 12, 2021, Speaker Pelosi appointed Neguse as a House impeachment manager (prosecutor) for Trump's second impeachment trial, making him the youngest impeachment manager in U.S. history.[34][35] During the trial, Neguse and his fellow House impeachment managers built their case by drawing connections between Trump's claims of election fraud in the 2020 election and the January 6 United States Capitol attack. In the end, the Senate voted to acquit Trump, but with seven Republican senators voting to convict, it was the most bipartisan impeachment trial in U.S. history.[36]

On March 20, 2024 Neguse was elected House assistant Democratic leader, succeeding Jim Clyburn.[5]

Committee assignments

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For the 118th Congress:[37]

Caucus memberships

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Political positions

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Neguse at a press conference supporting a ban on Congressional stock trading in May 2023.

Neguse voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[42]

Social issues

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Neguse supported the Equality Act.[30] He supports the Voting Rights Act and has introduced legislation to allow people aged 16 and 17 to preregister to vote. He co-sponsored the Emmett Till Antilynching Act.[30] Neguse supports the national legalization of cannabis.[43] Neguse supports universal background checks and believes there are limitations to the Second Amendment.[43]

Climate change

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Neguse has called climate change an "existential threat". He has introduced legislation to create an expansion of the Civilian Conservation Corps to focus on forest management and wildfire mitigation.[31] Neguse opposed the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. He supports the Green New Deal.[43] He supports efforts to increase fuel efficiency and federal incentives for renewable energy use.[43] Neguse supports endangered wildlife protections, including sponsoring bills to support wildlife protections on the South Platte River. He also wants to expand the size of Arapaho National Forest.[30]

Economic issues

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Neguse opposed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[43] He opposes increased military spending.[43]

Healthcare

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Neguse supports Medicare for All and universal health care. He also supports mandatory coverage of preexisting conditions and opposes repealing the Affordable Care Act.[43] Neguse supports the national expansion of COVID-19 testing and voted in support of stimulus funding related to the pandemic. He opposed the Trump administration's decision to leave the World Health Organization during the pandemic.[43]

Voting rights

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Neguse supports national mail-in voting.[43] He also supports the Voting Rights Act.[30]

Immigration and criminal justice

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The son of immigrants, Neguse supports immigration reform and serves as the vice chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. He supports a pathway for citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and the DREAM Act.[43][30] He supports police reform.[43]

Stock trading prohibition by Members of Congress

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The congressman supports a prohibition on members of Congress trading in stocks.[44][45]

Electoral history

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Democratic primary results, Colorado 2018[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Neguse 76,829 65.74%
Democratic Mark Williams 40,044 34.26%
Total votes 116,873 100%
Colorado's 2nd congressional district results, 2018[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Neguse 259,608 60.27%
Republican Peter Yu 144,901 33.64%
Independent Nick Thomas 16,356 3.80%
Libertarian Roger Barris 9,749 2.26%
Write-in 151 0.03%
Total votes 430,765 100%
Democratic hold
Colorado's 2nd congressional district results, 2020[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Neguse (incumbent) 316,925 61.5%
Republican Charles Winn 182,547 35.4%
Libertarian Thom Atkinson 13,657 2.6%
Unity Gary Swing 2,534 0.5%
Total votes 515,663 100%
Democratic hold
Colorado's 2nd congressional district results, 2022[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Neguse (incumbent) 244,107 70.0%
Republican Marshall Dawson 97,770 28.1%
Colorado Center Party Steve Yurash 2,876 0.8%
American Constitution Gary L. Nation 2,188 0.6%
Unity Tim Wolf 1,968 0.6%
Total votes 348,839 100.0%
Democratic hold

Personal life

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Neguse is married to Andrea Jimenez Rael.[50] They met in Boulder County.[30] Their daughter[31] was born in August 2018 and their son in May 2023.[51][4][52] They live in Lafayette, east of Boulder.[53]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Rep. Joe Neguse [@RepJoeNeguse] (August 14, 2020). "Americans rely on #USPS to deliver medicine, paychecks, social security, ballots and more. The President's attempt to sabotage and undermine these critical services in the middle of a pandemic is unconscionable and dangerous. We cannot let this stand" (Tweet). Retrieved November 8, 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Rep. Joe Neguse [@RepJoeNeguse] (October 26, 2020). "The terrible wildfires our state and community have experienced have taken a very heavy toll. But Coloradans are resilient. And I know that — working together — we will overcome these challenges. #ColoradoStrong #EastTroublesomeFire #CameronPeakFire" (Tweet). Retrieved November 8, 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "The Human Limits of Human Capital: An Overview of Noncompete Agreements and Best Practices for Protecting Trade Secrets from Unlawful Misappropriation" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b "Parents' Journey Inspired US Congress' 1st Eritrean-American". VOA. November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Rep. Joe Neguse elected assistant House Democratic leader". Axios. March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Swinnerton, Jamie (June 19, 2014). "Joe Neguse -- "I go by Joe" -- on his run for Secretary of State". Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Michael Roberts (August 31, 2018). "Joe Neguse Interview About Colorado Second District Congressional Run 2018". Westword. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  8. ^ "The Congressman: Joe Neguse". Alumni Association. March 1, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "2008 Candidate Profile: Joseph Neguse, Democrat". July 10, 2009. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Neguse, Fitz-Gerald assembly winners – Boulder Daily Camera". Dailycamera.com. July 30, 2009. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  11. ^ Daily, Boulder (June 24, 2013). "CU Regent Joe Neguse seeks Democratic nod for secretary of state – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  12. ^ "Democrat Joe Neguse files for SoS – Colorado Politics". Coloradostatesman.com. June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  13. ^ Lynn Bartels (April 10, 2014). "Joe Neguse, son of immigrants, runs for Colorado secretary of state". Blogs.denverpost.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "GOP sweeps statewide seats for second election in a row – Colorado Politics". Coloradostatesman.com. November 7, 2014. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  15. ^ "Secretary Williams touts one-time rival, Joe Neguse, for cabinet post – Lynn Bartels on SOS.state.co.us". bartels-on.sos.state.co.us. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  16. ^ Matthews, Mark K. (June 13, 2017). "Joe Neguse declares run for Jared Polis' seat in Congress – The Denver Post". Denverpost.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  17. ^ Mendoza, Monica (August 22, 2017). "Former chief Colorado regulator joins law firm to help businesses navigate regulations". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  18. ^ "Joe Neguse declares run for Jared Polis' seat in Congress". The Denver Post. June 13, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Neguse resigning as DORA executive director, running for Congress". June 13, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "Congressional candidates want Medicare for all and to impeach Trump. Money divides them". Coloradoan. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  21. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "Colorado Primary Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. June 28, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  23. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  24. ^ "Colorado Election Results: Second House District". The New York Times. January 28, 2019. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  25. ^ "Joe Neguse Becomes First black To Represent Colorado In Congress". November 6, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  26. ^ "Joe Neguse wins 2nd Congressional District seat, becomes Colorado's 1st black congressman". The Denver Post. November 7, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  27. ^ "Joe Neguse Re-Elected For Second Term In Colorado's 2nd Congressional District". www.cbsnews.com. November 3, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  28. ^ "Democrat Neguse wins in 2nd Congressional District to capture third term". November 9, 2022.
  29. ^ "Boulder's Joe Neguse Elected To US House Leadership Team". Boulder, CO Patch. November 30, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g "Joe Neguse". Colorado Encyclopedia. July 6, 2020.
  31. ^ a b c Marmaduke, Jacy (October 14, 2020). "Colorado Congressional election: Q&A with U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse". The Coloradoan.
  32. ^ "Colorado's Joe Neguse continues rapid rise within U.S. House leadership". The Denver Post. November 30, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  33. ^ Joe Neguse gets new leadership role in next Congress[permanent dead link‍], Colorado Public Radio, Caitlyn Kim, December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  34. ^ "Pelosi Names Impeachment Managers". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  35. ^ "'We Did Our Part.' Impeachment Manager Joe Neguse Reflects on Donald Trump's Acquittal". Time. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  36. ^ "Analysis | Trump's second impeachment is the most bipartisan one in history". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  37. ^ "Joe Neguse". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  38. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  39. ^ "Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi And Ralph Norman Relaunch The Bipartisan Congressional Solar Caucus For The 118th Congress". United States Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi. Retrieved November 18, 2024.
  40. ^ "Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute".
  41. ^ "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  42. ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Colorado CD2 2020: Rep. Joe Neguse, Charlie Winn On The Issues". Colorado Public Radio. October 12, 2020.
  44. ^ Andrew Stanton. (24 January 2022). "Here Are 27 Congress Members Urging Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy to Ban Stock Trading in House". Newsweek website Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  45. ^ Karl Evers-Hillstrom. (11 May 2023). "Lawmakers call for markup on stock trading ban before August recess". The Hill website Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  46. ^ "2018 Colorado Democratic primary election results". Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  47. ^ "2018 Colorado general election results". Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  48. ^ "2020 General Election - Official Compiled Results". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  49. ^ "Certificate & Results - General Election Statewide Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State.
  50. ^ Roy, Lisa (January 12, 2020). "Joseph (Joe) Neguse (1984- ) •".
  51. ^ https://x.com/JoeNeguse/status/1660017304099512320 [bare URL]
  52. ^ "2nd Congressional District candidates meet in quest to replace Jared Polis". Broomfield Enterprise. August 29, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  53. ^ Lundquist, Paulette (November 28, 2018). "Neguse". TheHill. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Secretary of State of Colorado
2014 		Succeeded by
Preceded by House Assistant Democratic Leader
2024–present 		Incumbent
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 2nd congressional district
2019–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
253rd 		Succeeded by
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