Paul Lundeen is a Republican who represented Senate District 9 in the Colorado General Assembly from 2019 to 2025. Previously, he served in the Colorado House of Representatives for House District 19 from 2015 to 2018. Elected Senate Minority Leader in 2022, he held leadership roles including Minority Whip from 2020 and chaired the Colorado State Board of Education . An entrepreneur, he founded businesses in brain training centers, real estate development, landscape management, and investment management; early in his career, he worked as a Washington correspondent credentialed to the White House. He resigned in June 2025 to become president and CEO of the American Excellence Foundation, ahead of term limits ending in 2026. Notable achievements include sponsoring successful bills for public school funding and workforce grants, advocating for parental choice in education, and pushing transportation improvements via budget reprioritization. Lundeen and his wife Connie raised two children in Monument, Colorado.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Regent Scholar at the University of Nebraska; graduated from New York University with studies in journalism, history, and economics.
• Political Experience:
  • Senate Minority Leader , Senate District 9 , committees including Education and Legislative Council.
  • House Representative, District 19 , committees including Education, Judiciary, and Transportation.
  • Colorado State Board of Education, Member and Chair .
  • El Paso County and state central committee member since 2000, precinct leader, chief of staff to a state senator, and gubernatorial campaign manager.