Biography
Rose Pugliese is a Republican politician representing Colorado's 14th House District, which encompasses parts of northern El Paso County, including much of Colorado Springs. She was first elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022 and assumed office on January 9, 2023. In January 2024, Pugliese was elected as the Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives, becoming the first freshman legislator to hold this position.
Prior to her tenure in the state legislature, Pugliese served two terms as a Mesa County Commissioner from 2013 to 2021. During her time as commissioner, she was recognized for her efforts to increase government transparency and foster bipartisan cooperation. She also played a significant role in creating a blueprint to assist businesses with reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pugliese is a first-generation American; her father immigrated from Italy at the age of 18, and her maternal grandparents also hailed from Italy. She is a single mother of two elementary-aged children and actively participates in her community, including volunteering with the PTA.
Education and Political Experience
-
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Japanese from Villanova University
- Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law
-
Political Experience:
- Served two terms as Mesa County Commissioner
- Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2022
- Elected as Assistant Minority Leader in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2023
- Elected as Minority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives in January 2024
- Led a statewide referendum in 2019 to protect the Electoral College, resulting in Colorado being the first state to allow its citizens to vote on the National Popular Vote Compact
Throughout her career, Pugliese has been an advocate for business, testifying before subcommittees of the United States Congress and the Colorado State Legislature. She currently operates her own law firm representing rural counties.
