Steven Woodrow
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Steven Woodrow
|image = Steven Woodrow (cropped).JPG
|caption = Woodrow in 2020
|office = Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
|constituency = 6th district (2020–2023)
2nd district (2023–present)
|term_start = February 4, 2020
|term_end =
|predecessor = Chris Hansen
|successor =
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|party = Democratic
|alma_mater = University of Michigan
Chicago-Kent College of Law
}}
Steven Lezell Woodrow is an American politician who currently serves as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives. A member of the Colorado Democratic Party, he previously served in Colorado's 6th district from 2020 to 2023 and the Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on State Civic Military and Veterans Affairs.
Early life and education
Woodrow spent his early life in Michigan. His mother taught public school at Bingham Farms elementary in Michigan.{{cite web |url=https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2019/10/meet-steven-woodrow-candidate-for-state-house-district-six/18915/|title=Meet Steven Woodrow, Candidate for State House District Six|date=October 22, 2019 |publisher=Colorado Times Recorder |accessdate=June 8, 2020}} He attended the University of Michigan with his sisters, where he majored in political science and earned his Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in 2002. During undergrad he served as President of the Alpha-Theta chapter of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. Later, in 2005, Woodrow earned a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law with high honors. During law school he served as President of the Chicago-Kent Student Bar Association.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}}
Career
Woodrow, along with Patrick H. Peluso, co-founded the law firm Woodrow & Peluso.{{cite web |url=https://www.woodrowpeluso.com/team|title=Team|publisher=Woodrow & Peluso LLC |accessdate=June 8, 2020}} With this firm, Woodrow practices law in Denver, Colorado. In January 2020, Chris Hansen resigned from the Colorado House of Representatives to fill Lois Court's vacancy in the Colorado Senate.{{cite web |url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/02/05/steven-woodrow-colorado-house-chris-hansen/|title=Democrat Steven Woodrow replacing Chris Hansen in Colorado House|date=February 5, 2020 |publisher=The Colorado Sun |accessdate=June 8, 2020}} While the Democratic Party committee was searching for a replacement, state senator Robert Rodriguez backed Woodrow.{{cite web |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/02/04/steven-woodrow-colorado-house-chris-hansen-seat/|title=Denver attorney Steven Woodrow appointed to fill Colorado House seat|date=February 5, 2020 |publisher=The Denver Post |accessdate=June 8, 2020}} Woodrow was appointed to the Colorado House of Representatives seat representing the 6th district, and was seated on February 4, 2020.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Steven_Woodrow|title=Steven Woodrow|publisher=Ballotpedia |accessdate=February 19, 2021}} Due to redistricting, Woodrow was drawn out of the 6th district{{Cite web |last=Metzger |first=Hannah |date=June 30, 2022 |title=Democratic primary race for Colorado's House District 6 pulls in over $330,000 |url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/elections/democratic-primary-race-for-colorado-s-house-district-6-pulls-in-over-330-000/article_43888d6a-ec2a-11ec-a07c-13144c9044a9.html |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=Colorado Politics |language=en}} and placed in the 2nd district. Woodrow won re-election in the 2022 general election.{{Cite web |title=Steven Woodrow |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Steven_Woodrow |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}
Woodrow's policy focus during his first campaign was on affordable housing, education and gun control.{{Cite web |date=October 14, 2022 |title=Colorado State House District 2 candidate Q&A |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2022/10/14/colorado-state-house-district-2-candidate-questionnaire-2022/ |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}
Woodrow also argued that legislators should not be subject to the law, citing legislative privilege to avoid prosecution for speeding violations. {{Cite web |date=August 30, 2024 |title=Colorado Lawmaker Uses 'Legislative Privilege' To Get Out Of Speeding Ticket |url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/local-politics/colorado-state-lawmaker-legislative-privilege-speeding-ticket/73-5fcfd46b-d867-44c6-9126-0f33131bc294 |access-date=September 1, 2024 |website=9 News |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Woodrow is married and has two children.{{Cite web |title=About Steven |url=https://www.woodrowforco.com/bio |access-date=December 6, 2022 |website=Steven Woodrow for HD 2 |language=en-US}} He and his family are members of the Rodef Shalom Congregation.
Woodrow gained significant attention on July 13, 2024, when he posted on X in response to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump earlier that day: "The last thing America needed was sympathy for the devil but here we are."{{cite web |last1=Cordi |first1=Peter |title=Democratic lawmaker chides 'sympathy for the devil' after Trump shot at rally |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/state/3081471/democratic-lawmaker-chides-sympathy-for-the-devil-trump-shot/ |newspaper=Washington Examiner |access-date=July 14, 2024 |date=July 13, 2024}} His post was widely criticized, including by the Colorado Democratic Party;{{Cite web |last=Haaf |first=Landon |date=July 13, 2024 |title=Colorado Dems decry State House rep's 'sympathy for the devil' post following Trump rally shooting |url=https://www.denver7.com/news/politics/colorado-dems-decry-state-house-reps-sympathy-for-the-devil-post-following-trump-rally-shooting |website=ABC 7 Denver}} Afterwards, he told the Washington Examiner that he condemned the events that day "on the strongest terms" and that the shooting "risks portraying Trump [as] a martyr, thus making him more likely to win in November."
Elections
=2020=
Woodrow defeated challengers Steven Paletz and Dan Himelspach in the Democratic Primary. He went on to win the general election, defeating Republican William McAleb and Libertarian Jeffrey Crowe with 71.9% of the vote.
= 2022 =
References
{{reflist}}
{{Colorado House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Politicians from Denver
Category:University of Michigan alumni
Category:Chicago-Kent College of Law alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Colorado General Assembly
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Jewish state legislators in Colorado
Category:21st-century American Jews
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