Rachel Zenzinger

Rachel Zenzinger is a Democratic politician from Colorado who currently serves as Jefferson County Commissioner for District 1, a position she has held since January 2025.

Born in 1974, Zenzinger moved to Arvada in 2002 and has maintained deep community roots throughout her political career. She is known for her extensive background in education and advocacy for public schools. Zenzinger is married and has two college-aged children, one attending the University of Northern Colorado and the other attending Colorado State University. She comes from a large family with five brothers and three sisters.

Education

Zenzinger earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Regis University and her Master of Arts degree in Adult Learning, Training & Development from Regis University . She is a licensed secondary-level social studies teacher.

Political Experience

Zenzinger's political career spans multiple levels of government:

• Arvada City Council : Elected twice to the council and served as Mayor Pro Tem in 2011
• Colorado State Senate, District 19 : Appointed in 2013 following the resignation of Evie Hudak, whom she had served as campaign manager for in 2012. She was subsequently elected and served until 2025
• Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, District 1 : Elected in 2024 to succeed Tracy Kraft-Tharp

During her legislative tenure, Zenzinger chaired several committees including the Education Committee, Appropriations Committee, and Joint Budget Committee. She played a significant role in land-use policy discussions, co-authoring an editorial with Republican legislator Barbara Kirkmeyer in 2023 regarding housing reform provisions.

Beyond elected office, Zenzinger has held positions as Project Manager for the Colorado Educator Voice Fellowship, advisor to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, and worked in the Master of Arts in Education program at Regis University specializing in Teacher Leadership. She has served on numerous community boards including the Denver Regional Council of Governments, Arvada Center, Ralston House, and various other civic organizations.