“I didn’t change, the system changed. This system is terribly broken.”

That’s what Colorado State Senator Cheri Jahn wrote in her announcement on Friday, declaring that she’s left the Democratic Party and will serve the remainder of her term as an independent.

“The unaffiliated voters in my district and statewide deserve representation.”

This is a really big deal.

Senator Jahn is now the first independent to serve in the Colorado State Senate and the only independent state legislator currently in office in the state.

Read Senator Jahn’s full announcement on her Facebook page here.

After serving 16 years in the state legislature, Senator Jahn said she’s seen state politics only “become more partisan and polarized.” Now, she’s blazing a new trail that many more independent leaders will follow in 2018 and beyond.

This is a big step forward for our movement, and more will follow.