It’s been four years since Republicans have been at such a political disadvantage at the Colorado Capitol, struggling for relevance against a majority so deep there are more Democrats in the House than GOP lawmakers in the entire legislature. And the party is split on how to regain traction. “Republicans are in an unbelievable pickle,” […]
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 inColoradans, News, Politics and Government
“It feels like a Band-Aid”: Colorado federal workers’ unemployment claims near 3,000 as short-term shutdown deal is reached
Unemployment claims from federal workers in Colorado neared 3,000 on Friday with $442,298 paid out to those furloughed folks before President Donald Trump agreed to fully reopen the federal government — at least temporarily. It was hardly reassurance, though, of a permanent fix to the political impasse that’s captivated the nation for more than a […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, News, Politics and Government
Soured by Denver lemonade stand incident, Colorado could allow kid businesses to operate permit-free
Children’s lemonade stands in Colorado could soon be spared from being soured by local regulations. A bill inspired by three young Denver boys whose lemonade stand was shut down by police last summer for lacking a permit has been introduced in the Colorado Senate. It would allow anyone under the age of 18 to operate […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Nick Gradisar bests Steve Nawrocki to become Pueblo’s first mayor in more than 60 years
Nick Gradisar will become Pueblo’s first mayor in more than 60 years. The lawyer and longtime political fixture in the southern Colorado city had a wide lead over former Pueblo City Council President Steve Nawrocki as runoff election results rolled in Tuesday night. Nawrocki conceded shortly after 7 p.m., when the tally reached 11,858 votes […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s new attorney general wants $4.2 million for organizational makeover as part of big shift from his GOP predecessor
It’s not just lawsuits against the Trump administration. Colorado’s new attorney general, Democrat Phil Weiser, has big plans to remake the office he oversees. And they’re not cheap. He’s seeking $4.2 million more in the next fiscal year than his Republican predecessor’s budget for priority initiatives and pay raises for his lawyers. The new spending […]
Posted inUncategorized
Man dies in backcountry slide near Aspen, becoming Colorado’s second avalanche death of the season
An avalanche buried and killed a man backcountry skiing near Aspen on Monday morning. The second Colorado avalanche death of the season came amid heightened risk of snow slides across the state. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office says it was notified about 10:30 a.m. of the avalanche in the Express Creek drainage south of Aspen. […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Denver’s DeGette wields subpoena power as Democrats prepare to investigate Trump. Here’s how she’ll use it.
U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, is at the helm of one of Congress’ most powerful investigations panels after her party’s stunning November victories — a role that means she wields subpoena powers. And although she says Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on oversight and investigations are still trying to […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
More electric vehicles will likely be available in Colorado after a new executive order from Gov. Polis
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday signed a sweeping executive order aimed at increasing the number of zero-emission vehicles in Colorado, a move that’s expected to mean more electric cars will be available for purchase in the state and which sets Colorado on a path to be aligned with California’s standards. Polis also directed transportation officials […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Gov. Polis says the federal shutdown isn’t impacting Colorado’s state budget — but that could quickly change
Like every other state, Colorado has been feeling the pinch of the ongoing federal government shutdown. But Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday it’s not affecting the makeup of the state’s budget — yet. “We don’t feel at this point, if the government were to reopen promptly, that there necessarily would be a budget impact to […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Gov. Polis prioritizes education in first budget request, but Democratic lawmakers are skeptical
Gov. Jared Polis wants to spend more money on education in his first budget request, including his promise of free, full-day kindergarten, but state lawmakers immediately cast doubt on his plans. The Democrat asked state lawmakers Tuesday to earmark $227 million for kindergarten students and added another $26 million to help school districts implement the […]