Dianne Primavera

Dianne Primavera
Primavera in 2022
Dianne Primavera
Born	28 1, 1950
Birthplace	Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, vocational counselor, government manager
Education	Regis University (BS) University of Northern Colorado (MS)
Children	2

Dianne I. Primavera (born January 28, 1950) is an American politician serving as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado since January 8, 2019, under Governor Jared Polis. A member of the Democratic Party, Primavera previously served two non-consecutive stints as a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing the 33rd district from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2017. Before entering politics, Primavera worked as a vocational counselor and government manager. She was selected as Polis's running mate in the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election, and the ticket won, bringing her into the state's second-highest executive office. Born and raised in Colorado, Primavera has focused much of her political career on health care policy, disability accessibility, education, and public health. As lieutenant governor, she has taken an active role in initiatives related to eHealth innovation, Long COVID care, wildfire mitigation, STEM education, and food security for Colorado schoolchildren. Her career in public service spans more than two decades, encompassing both legislative work and executive branch leadership in the state of Colorado.

Early Life

Dianne I. Primavera was born on January 28, 1950, in Denver, Colorado. She grew up in Colorado and has maintained deep ties to the state throughout her life and career. Before entering the political arena, Primavera worked as a vocational counselor and government manager, building professional experience in public service and community-oriented work. Her career background in vocational counseling informed her later focus on health care, disability, and social service issues during her time in the Colorado legislature. Primavera raised two children and established herself in the Broomfield, Colorado area, which would later form the core of her legislative district.

Education

Primavera earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Regis University, a private Jesuit institution in Denver, Colorado. She subsequently completed a Master of Science degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Her advanced education in counseling and public administration helped shape the policy expertise she would bring to the Colorado General Assembly and later to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.

Career

Early Political Career and 2004 Campaign

Primavera first sought elected office in 2004, when she ran for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives. Her initial campaign was unsuccessful, but the experience laid the groundwork for her subsequent entry into the legislature. During this period, she continued her work in vocational counseling and government management while building a political network in the Broomfield area.

Colorado House of Representatives: First Term (2007–2011)

Primavera was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in November 2006, winning the seat for House District 33, a district centered around Broomfield, Colorado. She succeeded Representative William Berens and was sworn in on January 10, 2007, as part of the new legislative session.

Primavera entered the legislature at a time when Democrats held unified control of the Colorado state government under newly inaugurated Governor Bill Ritter, and she expressed eagerness to begin work on the legislative agenda. She was appointed to several committees during her first term, including positions that allowed her to focus on health care and human services issues, which became central themes of her legislative career.

During the 2007 legislative session, Primavera was active on a range of issues. She participated in efforts related to transportation, local government, and health care policy. Her work on health care legislation was particularly notable, reflecting her professional background and personal commitment to improving access to health services for Coloradans.

In her second year in office, Primavera continued to serve on key committees and took on additional legislative responsibilities. She was involved in community engagement activities in the Broomfield area, maintaining close ties with her constituents.

In 2008, Primavera was involved in legislative efforts addressing sex offender registration and related public safety measures, working with colleagues on legislation that dealt with the tagging and tracking of sexual offenders. This work demonstrated her willingness to engage with complex criminal justice issues alongside her primary focus on health care.

Primavera was reelected in 2008 and served through the remainder of her first stint in the legislature. Due to Colorado's term limits, she left office in January 2011 and was succeeded by Donald Beezley in House District 33.

Interlude from the Legislature (2011–2012)

After leaving the Colorado House of Representatives in 2011, Primavera spent approximately two years away from elected office. During this period, she remained engaged in public affairs and community activities in the Broomfield area. Her time out of the legislature proved to be temporary, as she prepared to run again for the seat she had previously held.

Colorado House of Representatives: Second Term (2013–2017)

Primavera was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives for a second time in November 2012, once again representing House District 33. She succeeded Donald Beezley, who had held the seat in the intervening period, and was sworn in on January 9, 2013. During her second tenure in the legislature, Primavera continued to focus on health care issues, which had been the defining theme of her legislative career. She was reelected in 2014, securing another two-year term in the chamber.

Throughout her second stint in the Colorado House, Primavera built upon the legislative relationships and policy expertise she had developed during her first term. Her continued focus on health care, combined with her professional background as a vocational counselor, positioned her as a knowledgeable voice on issues related to health services, disability rights, and human services in the General Assembly.

Primavera chose not to seek reelection in 2016, and she was succeeded by Matt Gray in House District 33 when her term concluded in January 2017.

Lieutenant Governor of Colorado (2019–present)

In 2018, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jared Polis selected Primavera as his running mate for the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election. The Polis-Primavera ticket won the general election, and Primavera was inaugurated as the 50th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado on January 8, 2019, succeeding Donna Lynne, who had served under Governor John Hickenlooper.

As lieutenant governor, Primavera has taken on a broad portfolio of policy initiatives. Her office has been particularly active in areas related to public health, disability accessibility, eHealth innovation, education, and emergency preparedness.

Health Care and Long COVID Initiatives

Consistent with her longstanding focus on health care policy, Primavera has been involved in efforts to address the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado. In September 2025, she joined National Jewish Health for a Long COVID Roundtable and clinic tour, convening stakeholders to advance care and collaboration for individuals affected by Long COVID. The roundtable brought together medical professionals, researchers, and public officials to discuss strategies for improving treatment and support for Long COVID patients across the state.

eHealth Innovation

Primavera has overseen the Colorado Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) as part of her role as lieutenant governor. In 2025, her office partnered with the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance to launch the eHealth Solutions Challenge, an initiative aimed at leveraging technology and innovation to improve health outcomes for Coloradans.

Wildfire Mitigation

In October 2025, Primavera visited Steamboat Springs alongside Major General Robert Davis to meet with members of Colorado's first-in-the-nation Colorado National Guard (CONG)/AmeriCorps Wildfire Mitigation Crew. The visit highlighted the state's innovative approach to wildfire prevention, combining military and volunteer resources for mitigation efforts in fire-prone areas of the state.

Education and STEM

Primavera has been an advocate for education initiatives in Colorado. In 2025, she visited Englewood Middle School to celebrate the school's receipt of a 2025 National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) STEM Scholarship, recognizing the school's achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Food Security and School Meals

In October 2025, Primavera visited Arapahoe Ridge Elementary School in Westminster to highlight the importance of school meals during a period of federal SNAP disruption. The visit underscored the role of school meal programs as a safety net for children from families affected by interruptions in federal nutrition assistance.

Disability and Accessibility Advocacy

Primavera has been active in promoting accessibility and disability rights during her tenure as lieutenant governor. In September 2025, her office partnered with Fort Lewis College in Durango to host a special screening of the documentary A Colorado for All: A Legacy of Accessibility, a project produced in association with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor that chronicled the state's history of accessibility initiatives.

In October 2025, Primavera spoke at the Greeley Chapter Symposium of the National Federation of the Blind, engaging with members of the blind and visually impaired community on issues of concern.

Recognition of Public Servants

As part of her role, Primavera has publicly recognized the contributions of other public servants in Colorado. In 2025, she celebrated the career of Senator Michaelson Jenet, acknowledging the senator's years of commitment to public service in the state.

Personal Life

Primavera has two children. She has been a longtime resident of the Broomfield, Colorado area, which formed the core of her legislative district during her time in the Colorado House of Representatives. Her professional background before entering politics included work as a vocational counselor and government manager, experience that informed her legislative focus on health care and human services issues throughout her career.

Legacy

Dianne Primavera's political career has spanned nearly two decades, encompassing four terms in the Colorado House of Representatives and service as the state's lieutenant governor. Her consistent focus on health care policy during her legislative career and her expanded portfolio as lieutenant governor — including work on eHealth innovation, Long COVID care, disability accessibility, wildfire mitigation, STEM education, and food security — have defined her as a public servant with broad policy engagement. Her role in the Polis administration has allowed her to extend the health care and social services advocacy that characterized her time in the legislature into the executive branch of Colorado state government.

Primavera's path to the lieutenant governorship, which included an unsuccessful first campaign for the legislature in 2004 followed by four successful election campaigns and eventual selection as the gubernatorial running mate, reflects a sustained engagement with Colorado politics and policy. Her background as a vocational counselor and government manager, combined with her advanced education, brought a professional perspective to the legislature that was distinct from many of her colleagues.

As lieutenant governor, Primavera has used the office as a platform to promote initiatives that cut across multiple policy areas, from public health and technology innovation to emergency preparedness and education. Her work with organizations such as National Jewish Health, the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Lieutenant Governors Association has positioned the lieutenant governor's office as an active participant in both state and national policy conversations.