Jared Polis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jared Polis
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Polis in 2023
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| 43rd Governor of Colorado | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Dianne Primavera |
| Preceded by | John Hickenlooper |
| Chair of the National Governors Association | |
| In office July 12, 2024 – July 26, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Spencer Cox |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Stitt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado's 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Udall |
| Succeeded by | Joe Neguse |
| Member of the Colorado State Board of Education from the at-large district |
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| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Ben Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jared Schutz
May 12, 1975 Boulder, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Susan Polis (mother) |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Jared Schutz Polis (born May 12, 1975) is an American politician and businessman. He is the 43rd governor of Colorado, serving since 2019. Before becoming governor, he was a member of the Colorado State Board of Education from 2001 to 2007. He also served as a U.S. Representative for Colorado's 2nd district from 2009 to 2019.
Polis has made history several times in his political career. In 2008, he became one of the first openly LGBT people elected to Congress. In 2018, he became the first openly gay man elected governor of a U.S. state. He is also the first Jewish person elected governor of Colorado. In 2021, he became the first governor in a same-sex marriage. He was reelected governor in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jared Polis was born in Boulder, Colorado, in 1975. His parents, Stephen Schutz and Susan Polis Schutz, started a company called Blue Mountain Arts. This company is known for its greeting cards and books.
Polis went to high school in San Diego, California. He finished high school in three years with many honors. In 1996, he graduated from Princeton University with a degree in politics. While at Princeton, he was involved in student government and other campus groups. In 2000, he legally changed his last name to Polis, his mother's maiden name.
Business Career
While still in college, Polis helped start American Information Systems (AIS), Inc. This company provided internet access. It was sold in 1998. In 1996, he also co-founded bluemountain.com, a website for free electronic greeting cards. This website was sold in 1999 for a lot of money.
In 1998, Polis started ProFlowers, an online flower delivery service. This company later became Provide Commerce, Inc., and went public on the stock market in 2003. In 2005, another company bought Provide Commerce. Polis also helped start TechStars in Boulder, Colorado, in 2006. TechStars helps new technology companies get started. During his time in Congress, Polis was known as one of its wealthiest members.
Early Political Career
Polis was part of a group called the "Gang of Four." This group included four wealthy Coloradans who helped support Democratic candidates in state elections. Their efforts helped Colorado become more Democratic in the 2000s and 2010s.
State Board of Education
In 2000, Polis was elected to the Colorado State Board of Education. He served one six-year term until 2007. His election was very close, as he won by only 90 votes. During his time on the board, Polis served as both chairman and vice chairman.
Supporting Ballot Measures
In 2006, Polis helped support Amendment 41. This measure aimed to make government more ethical. It banned gifts from lobbyists to government officials. It also set limits on gifts from other people. The amendment also created an independent ethics commission. Colorado voters approved this measure in November 2006.
In 2007, Polis also supported a ballot question for the Boulder Valley School District. This question asked voters to approve money for improving school buildings. Voters approved this measure, which was the largest school bond proposal in Colorado that year.
In 2014, Polis planned to support measures to limit fracking in Colorado. Fracking is a way to get oil and gas from the ground. He wanted to ban drilling near schools and homes. However, he dropped these measures after reaching an agreement with Governor John Hickenlooper. They agreed to create a special group to study the issue.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
In 2008, Polis won the Democratic primary election for Colorado's 2nd congressional district. He then won the general election with 63% of the vote. He took over from Mark Udall, who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Polis was reelected to the House four more times, serving until 2019.
Time in Congress
Polis worked to help Democratic candidates get elected in 2012. He helped recruit candidates and raise money for their campaigns.
Laws He Supported
Polis introduced several pieces of legislation. One example is the Affordable College Textbook Act. This bill aimed to make college textbooks more affordable for students.
Committees He Served On
In the 114th Congress, Polis served on several important committees:
- Committee on Education and the Workforce: This committee deals with education and jobs.
- Committee on Natural Resources: This committee handles issues related to natural resources and public lands.
- Committee on Rules: This committee sets the rules for how bills are debated and voted on in the House.
Groups He Joined
Polis was a member of many different groups in Congress, called caucuses. These groups focus on specific issues. Some of the caucuses he joined include:
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- LGBT Equality Caucus (he was a co-chair)
- Congressional Blockchain Caucus (he was a co-chair)
- Liberty Caucus
Governor of Colorado
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Elections
2018 Election
In 2018, Polis ran for governor of Colorado. He won the election with 53.4% of the vote. He defeated the Republican candidate, Walker Stapleton. This made him the first openly gay person elected governor of any U.S. state.
2022 Election
Polis was reelected for a second term as governor in 2022. He won against Republican candidate Heidi Ganahl.
Time as Governor
Polis became governor on January 8, 2019. He has focused on various issues during his time in office.
Political Views
Polis is often described as a libertarian. This means he believes in individual freedom and limited government. He supports school choice, which allows parents to choose where their children go to school. He also supports changing Colorado's tax system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was cautious about making mask mandates mandatory for long periods. In 2022, a magazine called Reason said he was "the most libertarian governor in America."
Civil Liberties
In the House, Polis was a strong supporter of civil liberties. These are the basic rights and freedoms of citizens. He believed in protecting people's privacy and ensuring the government followed the rules.
Internet Freedom
Polis supports an open and free internet. He has spoken out against bills that he believed would harm internet freedom. He argued that such bills could hurt innovation and allow too much government spying. He also supported "Aaron's Law." This proposed bill aimed to protect people from unfair charges for minor online rule breaks.
Government Surveillance
Polis has been a strong opponent of laws that allow the government to spy on its own citizens. He voted against the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act because of concerns about holding people without trial. He also spoke out against the PATRIOT ACT, saying it had been "plagued with abuse." He believed that laws allowing government surveillance needed close supervision.
Cryptocurrency
In 2014, Polis became the first U.S. Representative to accept campaign donations using Bitcoin. In 2022, Polis announced that Colorado would be the first state to allow people to pay state taxes with Bitcoin.
Education
Polis has worked on several education bills. He supported the 2011 Race to the Top Act. This law aimed to encourage states to improve their education systems. It provided funding for things like expanding charter schools and rewarding teachers.
He also supported the SLICE (School Lunch Improvements for Children's Education) Act. This bill aimed to make school meals healthier. It would ensure that schools offer nutritious food options for students. Polis believes that healthy meals are important for children's health.
Another bill he supported was the Defending Special Education Students and Families Act. This bill aimed to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA helps provide special education services for students with disabilities.
Polis also introduced the Computer Science Education Act. This bill helps provide job training for computer-related jobs. He also supported the ACE Act, which provides funding to improve schools that are not performing well.
Energy
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In 2014, Polis supported measures to change rules about fracking. He wanted to increase the distance between fracking sites and people's homes. This was to improve the quality of life for people living near these areas.
Immigration
On May 29, 2019, Polis signed a bill that changed how law enforcement handles undocumented immigrants in Colorado. This bill prevents officials from holding immigrants based only on requests from federal immigration agencies. During a border situation, Polis helped relocate migrants to other cities using publicly funded buses.
In January 2025, Polis said he hoped to work with President Trump on border security. However, he also warned against actions that could harm American citizens or break up families.
LGBT Rights
When he left Congress, Polis was one of seven openly gay members. He was a co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus. He worked to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. He praised the Obama Administration's decision to stop defending this act. Polis also supported H.R. 116, which would allow marriage recognition for gay and lesbian couples across the U.S.
Polis was a main supporter of the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA). This act would protect LGBT students from discrimination in public schools. He said that education is a right for every student, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. He noted that this act would help make schools safer for children. Polis also voted to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This policy prevented openly gay and lesbian military members from serving. He also supported the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which helps investigate hate crimes.
In June 2019, Polis signed a bill banning conversion therapy for minors. This therapy tries to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. In February 2022, he spoke out against anti-transgender laws in other states. In April 2023, he signed three healthcare bills in Colorado. These bills ensure people have access to important healthcare decisions, including care for transgender people. In April 2024, Polis signed a law requiring public schools to use transgender students' preferred names.
LGBTQ+ Rights Abroad
As a member of Congress, Polis also spoke out about LGBT rights in other countries. He urged the U.S. government to investigate violence against LGBT people in Iraq and Honduras.
Trade and Tariffs
Polis has been critical of tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods. He supports free trade, believing it leads to lower prices and helps American businesses. He has said that tariffs can harm both the country imposing them and other countries.
Personal Life
Jared Polis was the first openly gay man elected to Congress who was not already serving. He was also the first openly gay parent in Congress. Polis and his husband, Marlon Reis, have a son and a daughter. Polis is Jewish.
In June 2019, Queerty magazine named Polis one of their "Pride50" trailblazers. This was to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a key event in the modern LGBTQ rights movement. Polis enjoys video games like League of Legends. He is also a big fan of Colorado sports teams, including the Colorado Avalanche and Denver Broncos. He likes the TV show South Park and has interviewed its creators.
Polis has often spoken about his love for Taylor Swift's music. He has included her song lyrics in public messages and speeches. In September 2021, Polis married Marlon Reis in a small ceremony in Boulder.
Images for kids
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Jared Polis's signature
