Brittany Pettersen

Ian Silverii

​

(m. 2017)​

Brittany Pettersen
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives from Colorado's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Children	2
Education	Metropolitan State University of Denver (BA)
Signature
Website	House website

Brittany Louise Pettersen (born December 6, 1981) ^[1] is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Colorado's 7th congressional district since 2023. She previously served as a member of the Colorado Senate from the 22nd district, and in the Colorado House of Representatives, representing the 28th district. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Education

Pettersen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the Metropolitan State University of Denver. ^[2]

Early political career

Before running for state representative, Pettersen worked for New Era Colorado, a nonprofit progressive political advocacy group that works to increase youth participation in politics and the government process. ^{[3] [4]}

2013 legislative session

In 2013, Pettersen opposed a repeal of the death penalty in Colorado. ^[5]

2019 recall effort

In July 2019, the Colorado secretary of state approved the circulation of a recall petition against Pettersen. The recall's organizers had until September 16, 2019, to gather 18,376 signatures to put the recall on the ballot, but on September 10 they announced that they were abandoning the effort and not submitting signatures. ^{[6] [7]} The recall petition stated that Pettersen should be recalled because she supports taxpayer-funded heroin-injection sites, and because she supported SB 19-042 (the National Popular Vote bill), SB 19-181 (Comprehensive Oil and Gas Reform), HB 19-1032 (Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education), and HB 19-1177 (the Red Flag bill that allows a judge to prohibit an individual from possessing a firearm). ^[8]

U.S. House of Representatives

Pettersen (left) with rock climber Sasha DiGiulian (center) and United States Vice President Kamala Harris in March 2023.

Elections

2018

Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

On April 9, 2017, following Ed Perlmutter's announcement that he was running for governor of Colorado, Pettersen announced her candidacy for Colorado's 7th congressional district. ^[9] After Perlmutter reentered the congressional race, she ended her campaign. ^[10] In 2018, Pettersen ran for and won Colorado Senate District 22.

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

After Perlmutter announced that he would retire from the United States House of Representatives after the 2022 legislative session, Pettersen declared her candidacy for Colorado's 7th congressional district. ^{[11] [12]} She was elected in November with over 56% of the vote. ^[13]

2024

Main article: 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

In 2024, Pettersen ran for reelection. She defeated Republican nominee Sergei Matveyuk with 55.3% of the vote in the general election, 1.1% less than in 2022. ^[14]

2024 presidential nominee

On July 12, 2024, Pettersen called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 United States presidential election. ^[15]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress: ^[16]

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
  • Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance and International Financial Institutions

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition ^[17]
• Problem Solvers Caucus ^[18]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Brittany Pettersen

Year	Office	Party		Primary			General			Result	Swing		Ref.
				Total	%	P.	Total	%	P.
2012	State House		Democratic	2,985	100.0%	1st	19,603	52.71%	1st	Won		Hold	[19]
2014				3,042	100.0%	1st	16,356	54.98%	1st	Won		Hold	[20]
2016				3,781	100.0%	1st	22,431	55.58%	1st	Won		Hold	[21]
2018	State Senate			16,066	100.0%	1st	42,747	58.16%	1st	Won		Hold	[22]
2022	U.S. House			71,497	100.0%	1st	204,984	56.38%	1st	Won		Hold	[23]
2024				71,052	100.0%	1st	235,688	55.33%	1st	Won		Hold	[24]
Source: Secretary of State of Colorado | Election Results

Personal life

In 2017, Pettersen married Ian Silverii, the executive director of ProgressNow Colorado, at the Colorado Governor's Mansion. ^[25] Pettersen and Silverii have two children, Davis and Sam. ^{[26] [27]}

References

1. "Colorado New Members 2023". The Hill. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
2. "Brittany Pettersen's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on January 13, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
3. "Colorado House Democrats". Archived from the original on February 28, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
4. "New Era Colorado". Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
5. Stokols, Eli (March 26, 2013). "Death penalty repeal effort blocked by two Democrats". Fox 31 Denver. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
6. "Recall Petitions". Colorado Secretary of State. State of Colorado. 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
7. Staver, Anna (September 10, 2019). "2 more recall campaigns against Colorado Democrats fail". The Denver Post. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
8. "Recall statement of grounds" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. July 18, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
9. "Democrat Brittany Pettersen launches run for ed Perlmutter's congressional seat - the Colorado Statesman". Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
10. Paul, Jesse (August 21, 2017). "Brittany Pettersen ends her congressional campaign". Denverpost.com. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
11. Luning, Ernest (January 11, 2022). "Democrat Brittany Pettersen launches bid for 7th CD seat held by retiring US Rep. Ed Perlmutter". Colorado Politics. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
12. "Brittany Pettersen is running for the Colorado congressional seat being vacated by Ed Perlmutter". The Colorado Sun. January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
13. Kang, Hanna (November 9, 2022). "Results: Democratic state Sen. Brittany Pettersen defeats Republican Erik Aadland in Colorado's 7th Congressional District election". Business Insider.
14. https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/Results/2024/2024GeneralElectionStateAbstract.pdf
15. "Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen calls on Biden to drop re-election bid". Colorado Public Radio . Retrieved July 12, 2024.
16. "Brittany Pettersen". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
17. "Endorsed Candidates". NewDem Action Fund. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
18. "Committees and Caucuses | U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen". pettersen.house.gov. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
19. "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2012. pp. 75, 118. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
20. "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2014. pp. 79, 118. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
21. "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2016. pp. 72, 113. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
22. "2018 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2018. pp. 70, 112. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
23. Primary election:
    
    • "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast: Primary Election Results" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2022. p. 3. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
    General election:
    
    • "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast: General Election Results" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2022. p. 4. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
24. "2024 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). coloradosos.gov. Denver: Secretary of State of Colorado. 2024. p. 5. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
25. Luning, Ernest (July 1, 2017). "State Rep. Brittany Pettersen and ProgressNow's Ian Silverii get married at Colorado governor's mansion" . Retrieved July 21, 2019.
26. Birkeland, Bente. "The First Time A Colorado Lawmaker Gave Birth During Session Wasn't Last Sunday, It Was Decades Ago". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
27. "Rep. Pettersen Announces Arrival of Second Child". U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen. January 27, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.

External links

• Representative Brittany Pettersen official U.S. House website
• Brittany Pettersen for Congress campaign website
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart

Colorado House of Representatives
Preceded by Andy Kerr	Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 28th district 2013–2019	Succeeded by Kerry Tipper
Colorado Senate
Preceded by Andy Kerr	Member of the Colorado Senate from the 22nd district 2019–2023	Succeeded by Jessie Danielson
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Ed Perlmutter	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 7th congressional district 2023–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Andy Ogles	United States representatives by seniority 353rd	Succeeded by Delia Ramirez