Middleton Favorite To Replace Garcia; Carroll May Now Run For Senate

The domino effect has started for Democrats following the resignation of Assistant House Majority Leader Michael Garcia (D-Aurora) on Friday.

State Board of Education member Karen Middleton will likely be appointed Garcia's replacement for his 42nd District seat, said state Sen. Bob Hagedorn (D-Aurora). Middleton is already running to succeed the term-limited Garcia in the November elections.

Middleton confirmed she will vie for the vacancy appointment, which will be made by a vacancy committee on Feb. 10. Middleton said she had not heard of anyone else indicate interest in the vacancy appointment.

Garcia will also likely abandon his bid for the 29th District state Senate seat, said Hagedorn, who currently holds the seat. Garcia has made no formal announcement about whether he will drop out of the 29th District race.

Hagedorn said state Rep. Morgan Carroll (D-Aurora) will likely take over as the Democratic candidate in the 29th District race.

Carroll declined to speak with reporters Friday; however, she said she planned to make an announcement Monday morning during a Town Hall meeting at E. Steamers Coffee House in Aurora.

Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Matt Sugar said it was "premature to speculate" on who would fill Garcia's House seat and stand in for his Senate campaign.

Garcia resigned his House seat Friday morning following reports that he exposed himself to a female lobbyist at a downtown Denver bar on Jan. 7.