Stephanie in the News

Drivers and supporters of the measure rallied at the Capitol on Monday with Democratic bill sponsors Sen. Robert Rodriguez of Denver, Rep. Stephanie Vigil of Colorado Springs — who is the first gig-app worker to join the Legislature — and Rep. Jennifer Bacon of Denver.

With one week down in Colorado's legislative session, representatives are crafting their plans for what they want to tackle this year. Democratic Representative Stephanie Vigil and Republican Representative Scott Bottoms are representing Colorado Springs for the first time, but they say the past week is already shaping their plans for the future.

The Colorado Capitol was filled with new faces on Monday morning when lawmakers returned for the start of the legislative session. More than a third of the legislature’s members are new to their jobs. Half of the representatives in the House are first-time lawmakers — 20 of the chamber’s 46 Democrats and 12 of its 19 Republicans are new. Democratic Rep. Stephanie Vigil, 38, of Colorado Springs is a gig worker who works with third-party delivery platforms, among other jobs: “I do a little of this and a little of that.”

(COLORADO SPRINGS) – Colorado Springs’ newly elected state house representative Stephanie Vigil is set to be sworn in Jan 9.
Representative Vigil is definitely a change of pace for Colorado Springs. This election, she flipped the long-time Republican seat and is El Paso County’s first openly queer elected official.

The next generation of queers growing up in the Springs deserves a better experience than mine. I fear that may now be impossible.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Perceptions can fuel misconceptions. In Colorado Springs, stereotypes are changing. The city has long been stereotyped as one of the most conservative places in America. In the 1990s it was the center of a movement to prohibit Colorado from enacting protections for LGBTQ people.

“Certainly, the party politics play a role in the Legislature, but what people are actually yearning for and what I hear at the doors and when I’m out talking with people, many of whom are unaffiliated, is we need to be able to move forward sustainably as a city and not dig our heels in on the past,” said Vigil, whose key issues include climate and energy, education and housing.

Stephanie Vigil, a driver who works for multiple apps in Colorado Springs, Colo., started using Para last year. “It ends up increasing your earnings because you’re not wasting your time on anything,” she said. “I’m not going to take anything that’s not a solid offer because I don’t have to.”

One of her main priorities for students is to fight for more competitive student wages and better scheduling for student campus workers.

Perhaps the most favorable race for Democrats is in House District 16, Daley said, where Democratic community organizer Stephanie Vigil faces Colorado Springs Councilman Dave Donelson, a Republican.