Norma Anderson is an American former state legislator from Colorado.[1] She previously represented Jefferson County in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1987 to 1998, and was a member of the Colorado Senate from 1999 until her resignation in 2006 to spend more time with her family.[2][3] A former Republican, she left the party in 2021 over its support for Donald Trump.[4]

Norma Anderson
Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate
Acting
In office
June 22, 2005 – August 22, 2005
Preceded byMark Hillman
Succeeded byAndy McElhany
Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
In office
January 8, 2003 – January 7, 2004
Preceded byBill Thiebaut
Succeeded byMark Hillman
Member of the Colorado Senate
In office
January 13, 1999 – January 3, 2006
Preceded byBill Schroeder
Succeeded byKiki Traylor
Constituency22nd
Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
January 1997 – January 13, 1999
Preceded byTim Foster
Succeeded byDoug Dean
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
January 14, 1987 – January 13, 1999
Preceded byJames Moore
Succeeded byRob Fairbank
Constituency52nd (1987–1993)
30th (1993–1999)
Personal details
Born (1932-07-06) July 6, 1932 (age 92)
Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2021)
Independent (2021–present)
EducationUniversity of Denver

Anderson was the first woman to serve as majority leader in the Colorado House and Colorado Senate.[5] A pre-school was named for her and she is a member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission Hall of Fame.[6] She has lived in Lakewood, Colorado, and has three children.[7]

Opposition to Trump

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In 2021, Anderson left the Republican Party over its support for Donald Trump.[8]

Anderson was a plaintiff in Trump v. Anderson, a court case that aimed to bar former President Trump, a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, from appearing on the Colorado ballot by invoking the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause.[9]

Trump was ultimately disqualified from the 2024 Colorado Republican presidential primary; marking the first time a presidential candidate had ever been barred from running because of the clause.[10] The court stayed its ruling, pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court.[10] On March 4, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not be removed from the ballot, stating that individual states cannot determine eligibility under Section 3 for federal office holders, and that such power is conferred exclusively to the federal government.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=6942
  2. ^ "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart.
  3. ^ "After 19 years, Sen. Anderson retires from "the game"". January 3, 2006.
  4. ^ "Women who served in the Colorado House of Representatives |".
  5. ^ "Norma Anderson". Colorado Legislators Past and Present. Colorado General Assembly Legislative Council Staff. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  6. ^ https://historicjeffco.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/hof-norma-anderson.pdf
  7. ^ "Interview with Norma Anderson, September 28, 2011 · Jeffco Stories". jeffcostories.omeka.net.
  8. ^ Friednash, Doug (February 25, 2021). "Two prominent Coloradans jump their parties' ships. What does that say about our two-party system?". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  9. ^ Young, Quentin (September 6, 2023). "Lawsuit seeks to bar Trump from presidential ballot in Colorado". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Joseph, Cameron (December 29, 2023). "Why did Maine and Colorado disqualify Trump from their ballots?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
Colorado House of Representatives
Preceded by
James E. Moore
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 52nd district

1987–1993
Succeeded by
Bernhard E. “Bernie” Strom
Preceded by
Guillermo A. DeHerrera
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 30th district

1993–1999
Succeeded by
Rob Fairbank
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
1997–1999
Succeeded by
Colorado Senate
Preceded by
William R. “Bill” Schroeder
Member of the Colorado Senate
from the 22nd district

1999–2006
Succeeded by
Kathleen K. "Kiki" Traylor
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
2003–2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate
Acting

2005
Succeeded by