Groff Becomes Colorado's First African-American Senate President

The Colorado Senate reconvened for its 2008 session today with an historic moment, as Democrat Peter Groff became the first African-American elected Senate President in the state's history.

"I understand that it is not just my hand that takes the gavel today," Groff said, according to a Denver Post article. "I understand that it is the hands of my relatives who toiled under the overseer's whip on the red clay of Georgia that take this gavel today on the red carpet of the Colorado Senate."

Groff, 44, succeeds outgoing state Sen. Joan Fitz-Gerald, who resigned to enter the open Second District congressional race.

Only three other states -- Illinois, New Jersey, and Washington state -- currently have an African-American presiding over their state senate.

Groff, who represents Colorado Senate District 33 in northeastern Denver, has served in the state Senate since he was appointed to replace state Sen. Penfield Tate in 2003 -- making him the sixth African-American senator in Colorado history.

Groff was named president pro tempore in 2005.

CORRECTION: New Jersey's current Senate president, Richard Codey, is white, not African-American. The New Jersey Senate's president pro tempore, Shirley Turner, is African-American. PolitickerCO regrets the error.