Kenny Nguyen was selected earlier this week by a 36-member Democratic committee to represent Colorado's District 33. Nguyen, a Broomfield City Council member, secured the position over two other candidates: Heidi Henkel, a fellow Broomfield City Council member, and Stan Jezierski, a former council member.

At 31 years old, Nguyen becomes the first Vietnamese-American to serve in the state legislature and one of the youngest members in the Colorado House of Representatives. Born and raised in Colorado, Nguyen's parents are Vietnamese immigrants.

Nguyen will succeed William Lindstedt, who Governor Jared Polis recently appointed to the state Senate.

Kenny Nguyen, Colorado House of Representatives' newest member. Photo: Facebook/Kenny Nguyen.

Addressing the committee, Nguyen articulated his vision to connect with young people and minority communities. He emphasized that the US is at a critical juncture, citing the incident earlier this month where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer fatally shot citizen Renee Good in Minnesota.

"We face an uncertain future. I am committed to serving with compassion, respect, and a willingness to listen", Nguyen stated. He identified the cost of living and climate change as the two most pressing issues for Colorado residents currently.

Nguyen was elected to the Broomfield City Council in 2023 and previously worked for Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera for 5 years. Each member of the Colorado House of Representatives serves over 88,000 residents, while each state senator represents nearly 165,000 people.

Duc Trung (According to Colorado Politics, Colorado Newsline, Hill)