Joseph D. Neguse is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 2nd congressional district since 2019, and House Assistant Democratic Leader since March 2024 succeeding Jim Clyburn in the role. Born May 13, 1984, to Eritrean immigrant parents who settled in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Neguse graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado Boulder with degrees in political science and economics in 2005, then earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2009. While a student he founded New Era Colorado, a youth civic engagement organization, and served as student body president.
Neguse was elected to the University of Colorado Board of Regents in 2008 the second African American in Colorado history to serve on the board and represented CO-02 in that role until 2015. He ran for Colorado Secretary of State in 2014, narrowly losing 47.5% to 44.9%, before Governor Hickenlooper appointed him executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, making him one of the youngest state cabinet officials in the country. He succeeded Jared Polis in CO-02 after Polis ran for governor in 2018.
He is the first Eritrean American and Colorado's first Black member of Congress. Speaker Pelosi appointed him as a House impeachment manager for Trump's second impeachment trial in January 2021, making him the youngest impeachment manager in U.S. history. He and his fellow managers secured seven Republican Senate votes to convict the most bipartisan impeachment trial in U.S. history though the two-thirds threshold for conviction was not met. In November 2020, his House colleagues unanimously elected him co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee; in December 2022, he was elevated to chair the fifth-highest position in House Democratic leadership.
The Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt and UVA ranked him the second-most effective House Democrat in the 118th Congress. His district covers Fort Collins, Boulder, Longmont, and mountain communities including Steamboat Springs, among the most educated and environmentally oriented constituencies in the Rocky Mountain West.
Progressive
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- First Eritrean American elected to Congress and Colorado's first Black member of Congress, a historic milestone achieved in his 2018 debut.
- Youngest impeachment manager in U.S. history, appointed by Speaker Pelosi for Trump's second trial in January 2021. The trial secured seven Republican Senate votes to convict, the most bipartisan impeachment verdict in American history.
- Elected House Assistant Democratic Leader in March 2024, succeeding Jim Clyburn, the fifth-highest position in House Democratic leadership, reached in just his third term.
- Ranked the second-most effective House Democrat in the 118th Congress by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt and UVA.
- Named the most bipartisan member of the Colorado congressional delegation by the Lugar Center in 2020, a distinction at odds with his progressive label, reflecting his ability to move legislation across party lines.
Controversies
- AIPAC is his top donor by a substantial margin at $139,910, an unusual figure for a Progressive Caucus member, drawing scrutiny from progressive activists who oppose AIPAC's primary campaign interventions against progressive Democrats in other districts.
- Occasionally criticized by more confrontational progressive activists for working through Democratic leadership channels rather than forcing floor votes or taking higher-visibility insurgent tactics.
- His rapid ascent into House Democratic leadership, from freshman co-representative to fifth-highest position in six years ,has drawn questions from some colleagues about whether his legislative priorities reflect his district's interests or his national ambitions.
- Has been the target of Republican messaging campaigns that characterize his Boulder-area environmental and climate positions as job-killing regulation with outsized costs for Colorado's energy sector.
Top Donors
| # | Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Israel Public Affairs Cmte | $139,910 | $129,910 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Holland & Hart | $30,725 | $25,725 | $5,000 |
| 3 | Brownstein, Hyatt et al | $27,975 | $27,975 | $0 |
| 4 | Elevations Credit Union | $25,975 | $25,975 | $0 |
| 5 | Service Employees International Union | $20,000 | $10,000 | $10,000 |
Holland & Hart and Brownstein Hyatt are two of Colorado's largest law firms, both with major natural resources and lobbying practices relevant to his committee work. Elevations Credit Union is a Boulder-based financial institution. AIPAC's $139,910 is unusually high for a Progressive Caucus member.
Recent Elections
2018 General Election
Won – D +26.63%| Candidate | Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| [D]Joe Neguse✓ Winner | 259,608 | 60.27% |
| [R]Peter Yu | 144,901 | 33.64% |
| [I]Nick Thomas | 16,356 | 3.80% |
| [L]Roger Barris | 9,749 | 2.26% |
Neguse succeeded Jared Polis, who ran for governor. He won the Democratic primary 65.7% to 34.3% over businessman Mark Williams and became Colorado's first Black member of Congress.
2020 General Election
Won – D +26.06%| Candidate | Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| [D]Joe Neguse✓ Winner | 316,925 | 61.46% |
| [R]Charles Winn | 182,547 | 35.40% |
| [L]Thom Atkinson | 13,657 | 2.65% |
| [U]Gary Swing (Unity) | 2,534 | 0.49% |
2022 General Election
Won – D +41.97%| Candidate | Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| [D]Joe Neguse✓ Winner | 244,107 | 69.98% |
| [R]Marshall Dawson | 97,770 | 28.01% |
| [3]Steve Yurash (CO Center) | 2,876 | 0.82% |
| [3]Others (3 candidates) | 4,156 | 1.19% |
2024 General Election
Won – D +39.42%| Candidate | Results | |
|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | |
| [D]Joe Neguse✓ Winner | 284,994 | 68.36% |
| [R]Marshall Dawson | 120,633 | 28.94% |
| [L]Gaylon Kent | 5,180 | 1.24% |
| [3]Others (3 candidates) | 6,101 | 1.46% |
Dawson ran a rematch from 2022. Neguse was ranked the second-most effective House Democrat in the 118th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt and UVA.
Colorado uses standard plurality voting. Neguse has held CO-02 since January 2019, growing his margin from 27 points in 2018 to 39–42 points in 2022–2024.