CWPMA note: Senator Priola can be a tough one to figure out. He is a traditionally a pretty conservative guy, except when it comes to environmental issues and issues affecting kids, he is one of the biggest proponents of E.V.s in the capitol.   He has run and backed our tank extensions in the past but has also been the prime sponsor of flavor ban bills, he generally sides with employers ability to make decisions about how to run their companies.

State Sen. Kevin Priola announced Monday he will switch party affiliation and become a Democrat, throwing a major monkey-wrench into his former party's ambitions of taking control of the state Senate.

The announcement from Priola, the freshly minted Henderson Democrat, is likely to come with little surprise. He's been a major backer of Democratic-led proposals for the past several years. Priola is in his final term as a state senator, and will be term-limited in 2024.

In his announcement letter, Priola pointed to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, calling it the "last straw." He had hoped the event would cause the party to distance itself from former President Trump, but that never happened, he wrote.

"To my dismay, brave and honorable Republicans like Mike Pence, Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney and Adam Kinzinger have fought to defend the constitution and the rule of law only to be met with ridicule and threats," Priola said in the letter. "I cannot continue to be part of a political party that is okay with a violent attempt to overturn a free and fair election and continues to peddle claims that the 2020 election was stolen."

He also cited concerns around climate change. 

Priola said while there are issues that he disagrees with Democrats on, "there is too much at stake" for Republican to be in charge.

Priola was first elected to represent House District 56 for the 2009 legislative session. He was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Priola's House and Senate districts lean Democrat, but he has charted a moderate course during his time in the General Assembly, one that has at times frustrated fellow members of the Republican caucus.

He's often been the only Republican voting in favor of major legislation tied to the Democratic agenda, as well as sponsoring some of those bills. 

Those included legislative efforts arising from the actions of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a controversial state recycling program, bills on reducing greenhouse gases, renewable energy, electric vehicles and use of plastics in fast-food meals and a school immunization bill in 2020.

Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, told Colorado Politics his caucus is excited to welcome Priola. He acknowledged that Priola's decision makes the challenge of holding the state Senate, with Democrats holding a 21-14 majority, just a little easier. "I felt confident we would retain the majority but having Sen. Priola join our caucus makes that even  more likely," he said. 

Fenberg acknowledged that there are issues that Priola disagrees with. In 2022, that included the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which Priola voted against, along with all the legislature's Republican members.

"It's important not to have a litmus test," Fenberg said. "You don't have to agree with the Democratic agenda to be a Democrat in every way."

But he also said the agenda will not change and that it will still be a pro-choice caucus. Fenberg indicated he's had "constructive dialogue" Priola on the issues we differ on.

In a statement, Fenberg added that Priola "chose his constituents and Colorado’s future over partisan politics."

"Senator Priola has made it clear that the people of Colorado deserve leaders who will boldly take action against the most serious threats facing our country today. Instead of bowing to the pressure of corporate, special interests and right-wing conspiracies, we must continue to take aggressive action to protect the democracy of our nation and combat the climate crisis facing our planet," he said.

Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown in a statement of her own slammed Priola, who she said had "selfishly chosen to make himself the story at the expense of Coloradans he was elected to fight for."

“Kevin Priola finally made the move to the party he’s consistently voted with. After lying to his constituents and routinely voting for tax increases that hurt the everyday working families of his district, he’s now admitted his true affiliation: a pro tax-increase Democrat," she said.

"Priola will regret this decision when he is in the minority come January 2023."

Senate Minority Leader John Cooke, R-Greeley, did not return a request for comment.

Priola's decision now requires the GOP to win four seats in the fall election to take control of the Senate, instead of three. The GOP is heavily favored one of those seats when redistricting moved Sen. Tammy Story, D-Evergreen, from a safe Democrat seat to a safe Republican seat. Rep. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, is vying for that seat in the fall election.

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.