Lawmakers huddling at their desks. Lobbyists crowding the chamber doors. Legislative staffers scurrying through the hallways. The Colorado Capitol can appear to be an intimidating place. But it’s not — once you know how it works. Here we offer the details on what you need to know to get your voice heard in the Colorado […]
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, Growth, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, one of the state’s top Republicans, on what’s ahead for the GOP, his city and his future
When John Suthers termed out of statewide office in 2015, after one of the longest runs as Colorado attorney general in state history, the powerful Republican did not slide into retirement. Within six months, he was elected mayor of the second-largest city in the state and quietly began working to jumpstart Colorado Springs’ listless recovery […]
Posted inNews, Transportation
MAP: More than 70 people have died in Colorado aircraft crashes since 2014. Here’s what the data tells us.
Since 2014, 73 people have died in helicopter and airplane crashes in Colorado. The aircraft they were piloting or were passengers in went down for an array of reasons, from alcohol intoxication to mechanical malfunctions to human error. None of the crashes happened during a commercial flight. Most of the crashes happened in the high […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Hickenlooper pardons one murderer who committed crime as juvenile, cuts short the sentence of six other killers
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper on Friday cut short the sentences of six more men convicted of murder and pardoned a seventh, continuing to use his clemency authority more than ever before as he prepares to leave office. Last week he shortened the sentences of six other men convicted of murder. MORE: Hickenlooper commutes life sentences […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Nearly 1 in 4 lawmakers in the 2018 Colorado legislature landed seats via vacancy committee. And more appointments are coming.
Nearly one in four lawmakers in the Colorado legislature last session had at some point landed in a statehouse seat thanks to a vacancy appointment, a Colorado Sun analysis shows. The side-door entrance to the Colorado General Assembly will remain equally open next year as at least five — and possibly as many as eight […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Republican state Sen. Randy Baumgardner, in Democrats’ crosshairs because of sexual harassment, leaves legislature
Republican state Sen. Randy Baumgardner, in the crosshairs of Democrats because of sexual harassment allegations, on Monday evening said he will step down from the Colorado legislature. The lawmaker from Hot Sulphur Springs had not been placed on any committees by his party’s leadership in the Senate for the upcoming legislative session. In a letter […]
Posted inNews, Transportation
Awkward pose no more: Denver airport first to get new TSA full-body scanner that lets passengers keep hands at their side
The awkward hands-in-the-air pose passengers at airport security checkpoints across the U.S. have been making for years while passing through full-body scanners might soon be a thing of the past. New technology being operated by the Transportation Security Administration at Denver International Airport allows travelers to keep their hands at their side when screened by […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Hickenlooper commutes life sentences of 6 men convicted of murder, including in high-profile Curtis Brooks case
Gov. John Hickenlooper on Friday commuted the life sentences of six men convicted of first-degree murder as young men or teens, marking the most significant action he has taken with his clemency authority in more than five years when he indefinitely halted the execution of convicted killer Nathan Dunlap. The term-limited Democrat granted parole eligibility […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Cory Gardner’s science award led some to cry foul over climate change. Here’s why that’s notable for 2020.
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner says he believes climate change is real and that humans are contributing to it. “I’ve said it before — I said it in 2014 — there’s no doubt pollution contributes to climate change,” the Colorado Republican told The Colorado Sun last week. “Climate change is real. I’ve been on the record […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government, Water
Cory Gardner, Scott Tipton bring new “good Samaritan” bill to address abandoned mines and stoke solution for $50B problem
Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner and U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton on Thursday introduced the latest version of a so-called “good Samaritan” bill to address abandoned, leaking mines in the U.S. with hopes of breaking roughly two decades of congressional gridlock on the topic. With just weeks left before the end of the year, the legislation […]