# Pete Lee

Sanford Edmund Lee (born October 11, 1947) is an American politician. He served in the Colorado Senate from the 11th district as a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his tenure in the state senate he served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 18th district.

## Early life

Sanford Edmund Lee graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a bachelor of Arts degree in 1970, attended Wharton School of Finance from 1970 to 1971, and graduated from the University of Akron School of Law with a Juris Doctor in 1975. He married Lynn, with whom he had three children.

## State legislature
### Elections

Lee ran for a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 18th district and defeated Republican nominee Karen Cullen in the 2010 election. He defeated Republican nominee Jennifer George, Libertarian nominee Robert Melamede, and Constitution nominee Amy Fedde in the 2012 election. He defeated Republican nominee Michael Schlierf in the 2014 election. He defeated Republican nominee Cameron Forth and Libertarian nominee Norman Dawson in the 2016 election.
Michael Merrifield, a member of the Colorado Senate from the 11th district, did not seek reelection in the 2018 election. Lee announced his campaign on September 2, 2017, and defeated Republican nominee Pat McIntire. A petition was issued in 2019 to recall Lee, but it was unsuccessful. He did not run for reelection in 2022.

### Tenure

During Lee's tenure in the state house he served on the Education committee and chaired Judiciary committee. During his tenure in the state senate he chaired the Judiciary committee and served as vice-chair of the Finance committee. Lee supported Amy Klobuchar during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.
In 2022, Lee was indicted by a grand jury for registering to vote at an address where he did not live, but Judge Eric Bentley dismissed the case due to incorrect residency information being provided to the prosecution.

## Political positions

Lee voted against legislation that required Colorado's public employee pension fund to oppose Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Lee was among thirty-seven legislators who endorsed a letter in 2018, calling for Planned Parenthood to allow for their workers to form a union. He supported legislation to prohibit the death penalty.
Lee received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. His scores from the American Civil Liberties Union ranged from 88% in 2013, 100% in 2014, 40% in 2015, 100% in 2016, 100% in 2017, 100% in 2018, and 80% in 2019.

## Electoral history

2010 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee | 2,860 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,860 | 100.00% | |
2010 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee | 10,808 | 54.68% |
| | Republican | Karen Cullen | 8,959 | 45.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,767 | 100.00% |
2012 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 2,929 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,929 | 100.00% | |
2012 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 19,588 | 53.07% |
| | Republican | Jennifer George | 15,021 | 40.70% |
| | Libertarian | Robert Melamede | 1,465 | 3.97% |
| | Constitution | Amy Fedde | 836 | 2.26% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,910 | 100.00% |
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 3,141 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,141 | 100.00% | |
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 15,998 | 55.54% |
| | Republican | Michael Schlierf | 12,807 | 44.46% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 28,805 | 100.00% |
2016 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 3,940 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,940 | 100.00% | |
2016 Colorado House of Representatives 18th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee (incumbent) | 21,145 | 53.30% |
| | Republican | Jennifer George | 15,556 | 39.21% |
| | Libertarian | Norman Dawson | 2,972 | 7.49% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 39,673 | 100.00% |
2016 Colorado Senate 11th district Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee | 10,499 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,499 | 100.00% | |
2018 Colorado Senate 11th district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Pete Lee | 28,015 | 61.96% |
| | Republican | Pat McIntire | 17,200 | 38.04% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 45,215 | 100.00% |