The Colorado Senate accepted Secretary of State certification Friday and seated Mary Kate Elizabeth Wallace as the senator for Senate District 17 after the Committee on Credentials confirmed the vacancy committee appointment and Chief Justice Marquez administered the oath.

The matter began when the secretary of the senate announced the chamber had a certification from Secretary of State Jenna Griswold showing that the Democratic 17th Senate District vacancy committee had filed the nomination and that Mary Kate Katie Wallace had accepted the appointment. Secretary of State Jenna Griswold’s certification read in part: "I, Jenna Griswold, Secretary of State, certify that the attached is a true and exact copy of the nomination by vacancy committee as filed in this office on 03/19/2025."

Majority Leader Rodriguez moved that a three-member Committee on Credentials be appointed. The Senate appointed Majority Leader Rodriguez (chair), Assistant Majority Leader Cutter and Minority Leader Lundin to the committee; the committee met, reported back, and the Senate adopted the committee’s report by unanimous voice vote. The credentials report recommended adoption of the Secretary of State’s communication and certification of the vacancy committee’s action.

Following the adopted report, Chief Justice Marquez administered the oath at the well. Wallace repeated the oath, beginning, “I, Mary Kate Elizabeth Wallace, do you solemnly swear… that I will support the Constitution of the United States … and of the State of Colorado … and will faithfully perform the duties of the office of state senator to which I was duly appointed … so help me God.” After the oath, Senators paused for photos and to congratulate the new senator.

The appointment fills the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Hon. Sonia Hawkes Lewis and the Senate recorded the roll updates so Wallace could be added to the chamber roll.

No formal dissent or roll-call challenge to the appointment was recorded on the floor during the credentialing and swearing process.