Ed Perlmutter

Edwin George Perlmutter (born May 1, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 7th congressional district from 2007 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, his district was located in the northern and western suburbs of the Denver metropolitan area. He previously served as the Colorado state senator from the 20th district from 1995 to 2003. On January 10, 2022, he announced he would not seek re-election in 2022.^[1]

Ed Perlmutter
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 7th district
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Bob Beauprez
Succeeded by	Brittany Pettersen
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 20th district
In office January 9, 1995 – January 8, 2003
Preceded by	Claire Traylor
Succeeded by	Maryanne Keller
Personal details
Born	Edwin George Perlmutter (1953-05-01) May 1, 1953 (age 70) Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Deana Perlmutter ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2008)​ Nancy Henderson ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	3
Education	University of Colorado, Boulder (BA, JD)
Website	House website

Early life, education, and career

Perlmutter was born in Denver, the son of Alice Love (née Bristow) and Leonard Michael Perlmutter on May 1, 1953.^[2] His father was Jewish, the son of immigrants from Poland; his mother was Christian, and was of English and Irish descent.^[3] Perlmutter describes himself as a Christian.^[4][5][6] Perlmutter graduated from Jefferson High School in Edgewater, Colorado and went on to graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1975.^{[citation needed]} He received his Juris Doctor at Colorado in 1978.^{[citation needed]}

Colorado Senate

Perlmutter was a Colorado State Senator from 1995 to 2003. He was elected to two four-year terms to represent central Jefferson County as State Senator from 1995 to 2003—the first Democrat elected in the district in 30 years.

He has assisted numerous campaigns and in was co-chair of the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign in Colorado.^{[citation needed]}

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

• Committee on Financial Services^[7]
  • Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy^[8]
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations^[9]
• United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on Space
• United States House Committee on Rules
• Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress^[10]

Caucus memberships

• New Democrat Coalition^[11]
• Aerospace Caucus
• Cannabis Caucus
• Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
• Equality Caucus
• Labor Caucus
• NASA Caucus
• National Parks Caucus
• National Wildlife Refuge Caucus
• Olympic and Paralympic Caucus
• Pro-Choice Caucus
• Science and National Labs Caucus
• Sustainable Energy and Environment Caucus
• Climate Solutions Caucus

Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act

Since 2013, Perlmutter and Rep. Denny Heck have introduced legislation to improve access to banking and financial services for cannabis businesses.^[12][13] Initially known as the Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act, it was rebranded as the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in 2017.^[14] On September 25, 2019, the House of Representatives passed the SAFE Banking Act by a 321–103 vote, marking the first time that a standalone cannabis reform bill had passed either chamber of Congress.^[15][16]

Political campaigns

2006

See also: 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter won the Democratic nomination for the 7th district by defeating former State Representative Peggy Lamm and college professor Herb Rubenstein, with 53% of the vote in the primary. State education chairman Rick O'Donnell was unopposed for the Republican nomination. Dave Chandler, a Green, was also a candidate.

The seat was held by Republican Bob Beauprez, who was reelected to a second term in 2004 with 55% of the vote, after winning his first term by only 121 votes. He left the seat at the end of the 2004–2006 term, having failed in his bid to become Governor of Colorado.

In late September, O'Donnell was put on the defensive when ads appeared noting that he had previously supported abolishing Social Security. A Survey USA poll soon after that showed Perlmutter with a 54 to 37 percent lead, although GOP consultants guessed that the support was "soft".^[17] An October 4 poll released by Zogby showed Perlmutter ahead of O'Donnell by 45-34 percent.^[18] Cook Political Report rating: Republican Toss Up. CQPolitics rating: No Clear Favorite.

In the end, Perlmutter (54%) soundly defeated O'Donnell (42%) for the congressional seat, helping Democrats to regain the majority in the U.S. House.

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter won against Republican nominee John W. Lerew.^{[citation needed]}

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter defeated Republican nominee Ryan Frazier and Libertarian nominee Buck Bailey on November 2, 2010. The 7th Congressional district had been cited as a GOP target in 2010.^[19]

2012

See also: 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter defeated Republican nominee Joe Coors Jr. on November 6, 2012. Perlmutter's victory came despite new congressional boundaries that made his district 4 percent less Democratic. Perlmutter was ahead by 9 percentage points in Jefferson County, where 60 percent of the voters live. Perlmutter led Coors by 17 percentage points in Adams County, where 40 percent of the constituents in the newly drawn 7th district live.^[20]

2014

See also: 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter defeated Republican nominee Don Ytterberg in the 2014 general election. He won with 55.1% of the vote.^[21]

2016

See also: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter defeated Republican nominee George Athanasopoulos and Libertarian nominee Martin L. Buchanan in the 2016 general election. He won with 55.18% of the vote.^[22]

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

On April 9, 2017, Perlmutter announced his candidacy for Governor of Colorado in the 2018 election.^[23][24] On July 10, 2017, Perlmutter announced that he was dropping out of the gubernatorial race and would not seek reelection to his congressional seat.^[25] However, on August 21, 2017, he announced he had reversed his decision again and ran for reelection for his congressional seat.^[26] He defeated Republican nominee Mark Barrington, winning re-election with 60.42% of the vote.

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado § District 7

Perlmutter defeated Republican nominee Casper Stockham, Libertarian nominee Ken Biles, and Unity nominee Dave Olszta in the 2020 general election. He won with 59.1% of the vote.

Personal life

Perlmutter has three children. He and his first wife Deana divorced in 2008. In November 2010, Perlmutter married Nancy Henderson.^[27] His uncle was Denver real estate developer Jordon Perlmutter.^[28]

References

1. "Ed Perlmutter says he won't seek reelection in 2022". Retrieved 2021-01-10.
2. "Congressman Ed Perlmutter - About". Facebook. from the original on May 1, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
3. . freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
4. Jeralyn Merritt (April 7, 2006). "An Interview With Ed Perlmutter". 5280. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
5. . 111th.illumen.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
6. . Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
7. "Committee Membership | Financial Services Committee". financialservices.house.gov.
8. "Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy | Financial Services Committee". financialservices.house.gov.
9. "Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations | Financial Services Committee". financialservices.house.gov.
10. "Membership". Select Committee on the Modernization on the Congress. U.S. House Of Representatives. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
11. "Members". New Democrat Coalition. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
12. (Press release). Washington, D.C.: house.gov. March 7, 2019. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020.
13. (Press release). Washington, D.C.: house.gov. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020.
14. Wallace, Alicia (April 27, 2017). "New federal bill would allow banking for marijuana businesses". The Cannabist. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
15. (Press release). Washington, D.C.: house.gov. September 25, 2019. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020.
16. Jaeger, Kyle (September 25, 2019). "House Approves Marijuana Banking Bill In Historic Vote". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
17. [1] March 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
18. . Washington Post. Reuters. 2006-10-04. Archived from the original on 2012-10-24.
19. Zeleny, Roger (2010-05-09). "Democrats See Hopes for West Dim in Colorado". New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
20. Bartels, Lynn (2012-06-11). "Perlmutter wins fourth term, Coors tapped out in 7th district". Denver Post. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
21. "U.S. Representatives". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
22. "Official Certified Results, November 8, 2016 General Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
23. Marcus, Peter (March 23, 2017). . ColoradoPolitics.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
24. James Anderson (April 9, 2017). "Democratic congressman announces run for Colorado governor". Associated Press. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
25. "Ed Perlmutter to announce that he is dropping out of governor's race". coloradopolitics.com. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
26. Bunch, Joey (2018-08-21). "Perlmutter is back in congressional race, Moreno and Pettersen suspend campaigns". Colorado Politics. Retrieved 2017-08-21.
27. "Perlmutters getting married on Friday". Denver Post. 2010-11-25.
28. Westminster Window: "Longtime businessman Jordan Perlmutter helped develop Northglenn area" by Corrie Sahling December 14, 2015

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ed Perlmutter.

 

Wikisource has original works by or about:
Ed Perlmutter

• U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter official U.S. House website
• Perlmutter for Colorado official campaign website
• Ed Perlmutter at Curlie

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Colorado Senate
Preceded by Claire Traylor	Member of the Colorado Senate from the 20th district 1995–2003	Succeeded by Maryanne Keller
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Bob Beauprez	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 7th congressional district 2007–2023	Succeeded by Brittany Pettersen
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Jeff Fortenberry as former U.S. Representative	Order of precedence of the United States as former U.S. Representative	Succeeded by Mickey Edwards as former U.S. Representative