Colorado Democrats Elect Gay Chairman

Rick Palacio was elected chair of the Colorado Democratic Party on Saturday.

According to The Denver Post, Palacio was elected with more than 50% of the vote from members of the party's state central committee at its biennial reorganizational meeting. He defeated Polly Bacca, a former state senator, and Adam Bowen, the former Larimer County Democratic chairman.

Following the vote, Palacio said, "I'm very excited. I'm excited for our party. We have a lot of work ahead of us as Democrats. I look forward to working with Democrats from all 64 different counties to make sure that we succeed in 2012."

Progressive Involvement reports that Palacio, 36, is an 8th generation Coloradan and a gay Latino. His grandmother, a former chair of the Las Animas County Democrats, survived the Ludlow Massacre, and both his grandfathers were union mine workers.

The Denver Post reports that Palacio will resign his position as deputy director of member services for U.S. House minority whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.