Dominic Moreno, a former Commerce City City Council, will step down from his State Senate Majority leader job to take a post in Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's new administration.

File photo

Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston, will bring on state Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno as his deputy chief of staff for strategy.

That means Moreno will step down from his District 21 Senate seat in southwestern Adams County, according to an Aug. 4 announcement from state Democrats. The district covers Bennett, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Berkley, Derby, Sherrelwood, Twin Lakes, Welby, parts of Shaw Heights and Westminster, and the eastern tip of Arvada.

Moreno was first elected in 2012 as representative and was the youngest serving member in the Colorado General Assembly. He won election to the State Senate in 2016.

Raised in Commerce City, Moreno attended local public schools and earned his bachelor’s degree in American government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Before his time in the state legislature, Moreno served on the city council in Commerce City for three years.

"Dom’s leadership has helped move Colorado forward in innumerable ways, and his ability to cut through the noise, have tough conversations, forge compromise, and find solutions to our toughest challenges is unparalleled," state Senate President Steve Fenberg of Boulder said.

Meanwhile, State Rep. Dafna Michaelson announced her candidacy for the Senate seat Moreno is vacating.

"I want to continue my work in the legislature to make sure that Colorado’s kids are protected, make sure that our communities of color receive the equitable investments that they have historically been denied, and to make sure Colorado continues to expand our renewable energy infrastructure to help fight climate change,” Michaelson said in a written statement.