Colorado’s political and civic landscape was jolted Wednesday night by the sudden death of State Sen. Faith Winter, a Democrat widely regarded as one of the state’s most effective and forward-thinking lawmakers. Winter, 45, was killed in a five-vehicle collision on Interstate 25 south of Denver, a stretch of highway she had worked for years to improve through transportation funding reforms.

Gov. Jared Polis, who had worked with Winter on environmental legislation since her early activist days, announced her passing with visible grief.

“Faith was a fierce advocate for hardworking Coloradans, women, families, and our climate,” Polis said in a statement. “For nearly two decades, I watched her lead with empathy and courage. Her loss is immeasurable.”

Flags across the state will be lowered to half-staff on the day of her memorial service.

The Crash That Stunned Colorado

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that the crash occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m. Wednesday near Dry Creek Road on northbound I-25. Five vehicles were involved. One person—now identified as Sen. Winter—was killed, and three others were injured. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash, and no arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon.

Traffic in the area was snarled for hours as emergency responders worked to extricate victims and piece together what happened.

What is already known is heartbreaking: Winter was driving home from a day of meetings—typical for her—when the crash occurred. Friends say she had planned to spend the evening with her two children.

A Lawmaker Defined by Purpose, Not Partisanship

If Colorado politics can sometimes feel fractious, Winter was the rare exception—someone whose colleagues from both parties describe as rigorous, empathetic, and deeply committed to the public good.

Winter first won election to the Colorado Senate in 2018 after serving two terms in the state House and previously as a Westminster city councilmember. After redistricting, she continued serving in the 25th district, where she championed:

Climate action and clean air policies

Paid family and medical leave

Transportation modernization and infrastructure funding

Protections for survivors of sexual harassment and violence

Worker protections and fair labor standards

Her signature achievement is arguably the 2021 transportation funding overhaul, a sweeping package that raised billions for transit, electric vehicle infrastructure, and pollution reduction by imposing small fees on gas and diesel purchases.

Critics called it a gas tax by another name; supporters saw it as a blueprint for modernizing America’s most important systems.

“She had a rare ability to take an issue as complex as statewide transportation funding and make it actually work in the real world,” said former state Rep. Matt Gray, her fiancé and long-time policy collaborator. “She never lost sight of people—the commuters, the workers, the families—behind every statistic.”

Another Winter hallmark: Colorado’s voter-approved paid family leave program, passed in 2020. Winter had introduced similar legislation as early as 2015—years before the political winds shifted enough to make it viable.

“Faith was ahead of her time,” said Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg. “She didn’t legislate to trend—she legislated to change lives.”

An Activist Turned Policy Powerhouse

Long before she was Sen. Winter, she was Faith Winter the organizer—an environmentalist, feminist, and community-builder.

She worked with Enviro Citizen, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship, and with The White House Project, a national nonprofit dedicated to training and elevating women in politics.

“She had this fearless, unapologetic belief that government could be something better—something compassionate and strong at the same time,” said a former White House Project colleague.

A graduate of the University of Redlands with degrees in environmental management and biology, Winter brought science literacy to a legislature often bogged down by ideological fights.

Her colleagues recall that she carried binders filled with climate data, policy drafts marked up in pen, and sticky notes with constituents’ stories stuffed inside the front pockets.

“She never forgot a single person’s name,” one former staffer remarked. “Or their dog’s name, for that matter.”

That last detail is more than symbolic. Winter was well known at the Capitol for bringing along Queso, her adored dog who trotted beside her through committee hearings and late-night floor debates.

A Personal Life Filled With Love and Service

Beyond her legislative achievements, Winter’s life was steeped in family, friendship, and public service. She is survived by:

Her children, Tobin and Sienna

Her fiancé, former state Rep. Matt Gray

Siblings, extended family, and countless friends

In a statement shared with Denver 7, her family said:

“Faith led with empathy and love before all else. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness. We ask for privacy as we grieve the loss of our mother, partner, sister, and friend.”

Her children were often cited in her speeches—particularly when she spoke about climate change, air quality, and economic inequality.

“She wanted them to inherit a Colorado with clean air, affordable homes, and opportunities to thrive,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales. “Everything she did was rooted in that vision.”

An Unfinished Agenda: Housing, Climate, Workers’ Rights

Although Winter had already built one of the most impactful legislative careers in modern Colorado politics, colleagues say she viewed 2025 and 2026 as years of unfinished business.

Her priorities included:

1. Expanding Paid Leave Access

Winter had pushed to broaden eligibility and strengthen enforcement of Colorado’s paid family and medical leave program.

2. Climate and Air Quality Regulations

She had been preparing new proposals to reduce ozone pollution—a chronic problem along the Front Range.

3. Housing Affordability

Winter was part of a coalition pushing for zoning reform and stronger tenant protections.

4. Mental Health Funding

She planned to introduce a bill increasing access to therapy and crisis services for adolescents.

Senate colleagues say the loss of her legislative force will leave a void that may take years to fill.

Colorado Responds: Grief, Tribute, and Resolve

Across the state, reactions poured in from elected officials, activists, and constituents.

Gov. Polis

“Her passion for climate justice and family support systems shaped Colorado. I am devastated.”

Colorado Democratic Party

“We lost one of our brightest stars.”

Republicans in the Legislature

Even those who clashed with her praised her “grace in debate” and “unshakable professionalism.”

Environmental Groups

Sierra Club Colorado called her “a once-in-a-generation climate champion.”

Women’s Rights Organizations

They hailed her as a “trailblazer” who “opened the door wider for women in leadership.”

Social media filled with photos of Winter hiking Colorado’s mountains—her sanctuary—and snapshots of Queso curled at her feet during marathon legislative sessions.

A Legacy That Will Outlive a Tragic Night

If there is one throughline in Faith Winter’s life, it is this: She turned idealism into action.

She believed that policy was not abstract. It was the air people breathe, the jobs they return to after giving birth, the roads they drive, the buses they ride, the homes they can afford.

Her death leaves a hole not just in Colorado politics, but in the daily, lived realities of people she fought for: working parents, low-income families, commuters, survivors of violence, and young women who wanted to see someone like them in power.

Her colleagues say the best way to honor her is simple:

Finish the work she started.