Jared Polis

Jared Polis (born May 12, 1975) is an American politician and entrepreneur serving as the 43rd Governor of Colorado since 2019. Born in Boulder, Colorado, Polis earned degrees from Princeton University and Oxford University before launching his career in technology and business. He founded several successful companies, including American Information Systems and ProFlowers, demonstrating entrepreneurial acumen before entering public service. Polis served in the U.S. House of Representatives (2009-2019), representing Colorado's second congressional district, where he championed education reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and fiscal responsibility. His congressional tenure established him as a progressive voice on technology policy, education, and social issues. Polis made history in 2018 when he was elected Governor of Colorado, becoming the first openly gay governor of the state and among the first openly gay governors elected to a statewide office in U.S. history. As governor, Polis has focused on education policy, renewable energy, healthcare expansion, and economic development. His administration has pursued progressive agenda items while governing a politically diverse state, earning both praise and criticism depending on policy priorities. Polis represents a new generation of LGBTQ+ political leaders who have achieved executive power in American governance, normalizing diverse representation in high office and advancing progressive policy priorities.