Janet Buckner is a Democrat who represented Colorado Senate District 29 from January 2021 until her resignation on January 9, 2025. She previously served in the Colorado House of Representatives for District 40 from July 2015 to January 2021, succeeding her late husband, John W. Buckner, who died in office. A longtime Aurora resident since 1975, she is a mother of three and grandmother to three. Notable achievements include serving as Speaker pro Tempore of the House , Majority Caucus Chair and Chair of the Senate Education Committee in the Senate, and sponsoring bipartisan legislation on health/education inequities, the CROWN Act , Juneteenth recognition, perinatal health, sickle cell services, cancer screenings, and the Emily Keyes–John W. Buckner Organ Donation Awareness Fund. She was a member of the Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.

Education and Political Experience

Limited public details are available on her formal education; she is from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and has deep roots in community service in Aurora. Politically, Buckner entered office via unanimous vacancy committee appointment in July 2015 for House District 40, won reelection in 2016 and 2018, then transitioned to Senate District 29 . She resigned shortly after 2024 reelection, succeeded by Rep. Iman Jodeh.