Assistant Senate Majority Leader Faith Winter, the No. 3 Democrat in the Colorado Senate, is seeking medical treatment for substance abuse, she told The Colorado Sun on Thursday.
Winter is specifically seeking assistance with alcoholism.
The Broomfield lawmaker’s decision comes after she appeared to be intoxicated Wednesday evening as she attended a community hearing in Northglenn about a state plan to open a controversial mental health transitional living facility that could house people convicted of sex offenses. Winter’s speech was slurred and halting and she seemed to struggle to gather her thoughts.
“I deeply regret my behavior last night,” Winter said in a written statement. “I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry for any inconvenience or discomfort I caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and I am committed to making things right. I especially apologize to the city of Northglenn and the citizens that came out — I deeply care about your thoughts and community. I am now under the care of medical professionals and receiving treatment for my substance abuse disorder.”
Northglenn Police Department officers were at the event and encouraged Winter not to drive home when it ended.
“After multiple individuals expressed concern about Senator Winter, we felt it was prudent to suggest she find a ride home,” said James Burlison, a spokesman for the department.
Also at the event was 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason. He declined to comment, through a spokesman, when asked if he tried to prevent Winter from driving home out of concern about her being intoxicated.
Winter’s colleagues in the Senate have been concerned this year about her drinking. Some have tried to confront her and encourage her to seek treatment, according to several lawmakers.
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A former Westminster city councilwoman, Winter has been a state lawmaker since 2015, after she was elected in 2014 to represent a Colorado House district. She was elected to the Senate in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Her term ends in January 2027.
The senator is chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee. She is sponsoring major legislation this year that would impose new fees on vehicle owners to protect pedestrians and bikers, as well as legislation to increase air quality enforcement.
Winter said Thursday that she is stepping down from her role as chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee “in order to focus on my health.”
“I apologize to anyone who was affected by my actions and I appreciate your understanding,” she said. “Thank you for respecting me and my family’s privacy at this time.”
Winter suffered a serious head injury and had to undergo surgery in September when she crashed while riding her bike. A statement posted on her X account said Winter was riding her bike to the Capitol when she crashed into a curb while trying to “avoid being hit by a large truck.”
X is the social media site formerly known as Twitter.
Winter wrote in a Colorado Sun opinion piece last year that she fainted while boarding a plane and was found to have abnormal blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat. She was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease which she said “led to the development of pulmonary hypertension and put incredible stress on my heart.”
There’s about a month left in Colorado’s 2024 legislative session. It’s unclear how Winter’s treatment will affect her ability to participate at the Capitol during that span.
Winter was marked excused from the Senate on Thursday as the chamber debated the state’s $40.6 billion fiscal year 2024-25 budget, which takes effect July 1.
In her statement, Winter did not indicate whether she plans to continue serving in her Senate leadership position.