Cleave Simpson

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Cleave Simpson

| image = Colorado State Senator Cleave Simpson in 2023.jpg

| office = Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate

| term_start = June 12, 2025

| term_end =

| predecessor = Paul Lundeen

| successor =

| state_senate1 = Colorado

| district1 = 6th

| term_start1 = January 9, 2023

| term_end1 =

| predecessor1 = Redistricted

| successor1 =

| state_senate2 = Colorado

| district2 = 35th

| term_start2 = January 13, 2021

| term_end2 = January 9, 2023

| predecessor2 = Larry Crowder

| successor2 = Redistricted

| birth_name = Cleave Alan Simpson Jr.

| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|62|2023|12|12}}

| birth_place = Alamosa, Colorado, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Cathy

| education = Colorado School of Mines (BS)

| website = {{url|simpsonforcolorado.com|Campaign website}}

}}

Cleave Alan Simpson Jr.https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/386882/Cleave_Alan_Simpson_Jr_.html (born 1960/1961)https://www.telluridenews.com/news/article_cd0c5cf4-9955-11ee-b89c-7ff6be14ffa3.html is an American politician from Alamosa, Colorado. A Republican, Simpson represents Colorado State Senate District 6.{{cite news |author= |date=January 7, 2023 |title=New state senate district: For Simpson, it's still about water |url=https://www.alamosacitizen.com/new-state-senate-district-for-simpson-its-still-about-water/ |work=Alamosa Citizen |location= |access-date=January 10, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://redistricting.colorado.gov/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBdWNEIiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--044216c9ce8daddbba34fcce01b5cf3cc83892c8/2021_Senate_District_6.pdf |title=Colorado Senate District 6 (2021) |author=Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission |date=March 18, 2022 |website= |publisher=State of Colorado |access-date=January 10, 2023 |quote=}} Prior to the implementation of 2020 redistricting in 2023, Simpson represented the former Colorado State Senate District 35.{{cite web |url=https://redistricting.colorado.gov/rails/active_storage/blobs/eyJfcmFpbHMiOnsibWVzc2FnZSI6IkJBaHBBZG89IiwiZXhwIjpudWxsLCJwdXIiOiJibG9iX2lkIn19--dca1199a756a76f7bf99de4a7a7e227c2176f946/SD%2035%20Info%20Sheet%20and%20Map.pdf|title=Legislative District Information After 2011 Reapportionment: Senate District 35 |author= |date=December 22, 2011 |website=Colorado Reapportionment Commission |access-date=November 24, 2020 }} He was elected as minority leader in June 2025.{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Sara |date=June 12, 2025 |title=Colorado Senate Republicans choose Cleave Simpson as minority leader |url=https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/colorado-cleave-simpson-minority-leader/ |work= Colorado Newsline |location= |access-date=June 12, 2025}}

Background

Simpson is the general manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and also served on the Adams State University Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2020. A native of the San Luis Valley, he is a fourth-generation farmer and rancher there. He graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1984.{{cite web |url=https://www.simpsonforsenate35.com/about |title= About|author= |date=2019 |website=Simpson for CO Senate 35 |access-date=November 24, 2020 }}{{cite news |last=Severance |first=Ryan |date=September 2, 2020 |title=Simpson aiming for Colorado Senate District 35 seat |url=https://www.chieftain.com/story/special/2020/09/02/simpson-aiming-for-colorado-senate-district-35-seat/113650046/ |work=The Pueblo Chieftain |access-date=November 24, 2020}}

Electoral history

In the 2020 Republican primary election of Colorado's 35th Senate district, Simpson ran unopposed.{{cite web |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/103901/web.255599/#/detail/5352 |title=Colorado election results: June 30, 2020 primary election, official results |author= |date=October 27, 2020 |website=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=November 24, 2020 }} In the 2020 general election, Simpson defeated his Democratic Party opponent, winning 60.12% of the vote.{{cite web |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/105975/web.264614/#/detail/435 |title=Colorado election results: November 3, 2020 general election |author= |date=November 23, 2020 |website=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=November 24, 2020 }}

Simpson ran for re-election in 2024. In the Republican primary election held June 25, 2024, he ran unopposed.{{Cite web |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/121727/web.345435/#/detail/1065 |title=Colorado election results: June 25, 2024 primary election: State Senator District 6 Republican |author= |date=October 15, 2024 |website=Colorado Secretary of State |publisher= |access-date=November 20, 2024 |quote=}} In the general election held November 5, 2024, Simpson defeated Democratic candidate Vivian Smotherman, winning 55.91% of the total votes cast.{{Cite web |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/122598/web.345435/#/detail/1060 |title=November 5, 2024 general election: State senator District 6 |author= |date=November 20, 2024 |website=Colorado Secretary of State |publisher= |access-date=November 20, 2024 |quote=}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = 2020 Colorado Senate election, 35th District

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Cleave Simpson

| votes = 43,970

| percentage = 60.12%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Carlos R. Lopez