Democrats and Republicans in the Colorado legislature have reached an agreement to allocate $300 million for transportation in this year’s budget package, but it’s unclear what will be cut in order to make that spending possible. “We’re going to dig through the couch cushions,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo Democrat and state budget writer […]
Jesse Paul
Jesse Paul is a Denver-based political reporter and editor at The Colorado Sun, covering the state legislature, Congress and local politics. He is the author of The Unaffiliated newsletter and also occasionally fills in on breaking news coverage.
A Colorado College graduate, Jesse worked at The Denver Post from June 2014 until July 2018, when he joined The Sun. He was also an intern at The Gazette in Colorado Springs and The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware, his hometown.
Jesse has won awards for long form feature writing, public service reporting, sustained coverage and deadline news reporting.
Topic expertise: Politics, breaking news, skiing, aviation
Location: Denver
Newsletter: The Unaffiliated, Colorado’s premier, must-read politics and policy newsletter
Language(s) spoken in addition to English: Spanish
Education: Colorado College
Honors & Awards: Best Breaking News/Deadline Best Breaking News/Deadline Reporting: The minute-by-minute story of the Marshall fire’s wind-fueled tear through Boulder County. Jennifer Brown, Jesse Paul (Colorado Press Association). Best Politics Reporting: Meet the Colorado rancher spending $11 million – and counting – to prevent Jared Polis from winning reelection. Jesse Paul (Second Place, Colorado Press Association). Best Politics News Coverage (editor), 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2022. Best Breaking News Coverage, 2nd, Society of Professional Journalists April 2022. Best Short-Form Feature Reporting, 2nd, Society of Professional Journalists April 2022. Best Extended Coverage, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2021. Best Long Form Feature Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2021. Best Pandemic Coverage, 2nd, Society of Professional Journalists April 2021. Best Public Service Reporting, 1st, The Colorado Press Association May 2020. Best Public Service Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2020. Best Politics Enterprise Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2020. Best Long Form Feature Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists April 2020. Best Health General Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists May 2019. Best Politics General Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists May 2019. Best Sustained Coverage, 1st, The Colorado Press Association April 2018. Best Deadline News Reporting, 1st and 2nd, Colorado Press Association April 2018. Best Breaking News Reporting, 1st, Society of Professional Journalists Jan. 2016. Best Deadline News Reporting, 1st, The Colorado Press Association Jan. 2016.
Contact:
X (Formerly Twitter): @jesseapaul
Threads: @jesseapaul
Phone: 720-432-2229
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, Growth, News
Colorado Springs has big plans for its downtown. But first the city must deal with the Martin Drake Power Plant.
The Martin Drake Power Plant is as prominent as it is controversial in Colorado Springs. It’s an unmistakable landmark on the downtown horizon, especially in winter when steam from its coal-fired electric generation billows high into the air over the city’s handful of tall buildings and nearby Pikes Peak. But alongside the debate about public […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet says he has prostate cancer and “my prognosis is good”
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who has been inching toward a 2020 presidential bid, announced Wednesday night that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. “Late last month, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” the Colorado Democrat said in a written statement. “While hearing news like this is never easy, I am fortunate it was detected […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado death penalty repeal effort is yanked, with Democratic votes in question
Colorado lawmakers on Tuesday nixed their effort to repeal the state’s death penalty after it appeared Democrats lacked the votes needed to push the measure through, emphasizing a split in the party that has been widening for weeks. Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat, tearfully asked that Senate Bill 182 be laid over until May […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Growth, News, Politics and Government
It’s the Year of the Renter at the Colorado statehouse, from rent control to less stringent eviction timelines
First it was the bed bugs that infested the couch and the roaches scuttling through the kitchen. But the worst was the day the boiler room exploded, sending residents of Kelsey Danna’s apartment complex screaming and running as a gas man shouted at them to get to safety. The Englewood complex didn’t have heat for […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Columbine students campaign to spread photos of mass-shooting victims as discussion of gun-violence physiology grows
There’s been a national push in recent years to erase the names of gunmen who commit mass shootings from the public sphere. But now a group of Columbine High School students are leading an effort to spread photos of their horrific acts to influence the conversation around gun control. The #MyLastShot campaign, launched this week, […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government, Transportation
Republicans are celebrating, but the extra $106 million for transportation in Colorado’s budget is far from a done deal
Republicans in the Colorado Senate celebrated this week as the $30.5 billion state budget passed out of the chamber with $106 million in cuts to government administration spending as part of a plan to divert the money toward transportation. Since January, the GOP had been clamoring for more money — $336 million to be exact […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Senate passes red flag gun bill, moving it one step from Gov. Jared Polis’ signature
The Colorado Senate on Thursday passed the so-called red flag gun bill, moving the measure within a step of Gov. Jared Polis’ desk, where he’s expected to sign it into law. House Bill 1177 cleared the chamber on an 18-17 vote. It now heads back to the House for approval of Senate amendments. Senate President […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Here are the Democrats running to unseat Republican Cory Gardner — and who’s campaigns have ended
Colorado’s 2020 race for U.S. Senate will be among the most watched congressional contests in the nation, with Republican Cory Gardner appearing vulnerable in a state with an electorate moving increasingly toward the center and left. There were a host of Democratic candidates who announced campaigns to unseat Gardner. But as of April 2020 it […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Democrat Leroy Garcia, Colorado Senate president, will cast “no” vote on red flag bill
Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia will abandon one of his party’s priority pieces of legislation when the so-called red flag gun bill comes up for a final vote in the state Senate in the coming days. Garcia first announced his decision to vote “no” on the measure to The Pueblo Chieftain on Tuesday. “I took […]