Norma Anderson

Norma Anderson is an American former state legislator from Colorado.^[1] She previously represented Jefferson County in the Colorado House of Representatives from 1987 to 1998, and was a member of the Colorado Senate from 1999 until her resignation in 2006 to spend more time with her family.^[2][3] A former Republican, she left the party in 2021 over its support for Donald Trump.^[4]

Norma Anderson
Minority Leader of the Colorado Senate
Acting
In office June 22, 2005 – August 22, 2005
Preceded by	Mark Hillman
Succeeded by	Andy McElhany
Majority Leader of the Colorado Senate
In office January 8, 2003 – January 7, 2004
Preceded by	Bill Thiebaut
Succeeded by	Mark Hillman
Member of the Colorado Senate
In office January 13, 1999 – January 3, 2006
Preceded by	Bill Schroeder
Succeeded by	Kiki Traylor
Constituency	22nd
Majority Leader of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office January 1997 – January 13, 1999
Preceded by	Tim Foster
Succeeded by	Doug Dean
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office January 14, 1987 – January 13, 1999
Preceded by	James Moore
Succeeded by	Rob Fairbank
Constituency	52nd (1987–1993) 30th (1993–1999)
Personal details
Born	(1932-07-06) July 6, 1932 (age 93) Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican (before 2021) Independent (2021–present)
Education	University of Denver

Anderson was the first woman to serve as majority leader in the Colorado House and Colorado Senate.^[5] A pre-school was named for her and she is a member of the Jefferson County Historical Commission Hall of Fame.^[6] She has lived in Lakewood, Colorado, and has three children.^[7]

Opposition to Trump

In 2021, Anderson left the Republican Party over its support for Donald Trump.^[8]

Anderson was a plaintiff in Trump v. Anderson, a court case that aimed to bar former President Trump, a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, from appearing on the Colorado ballot by invoking the 14th Amendment's insurrection clause.^[9]

Trump was ultimately disqualified from the 2024 Colorado Republican presidential primary; marking the first time a presidential candidate had ever been barred from running because of the clause.^[10] The court stayed its ruling, pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court.^[10] On March 4, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that Trump could not be removed from the ballot, stating that individual states cannot determine eligibility under Section 3 for federal office holders, and that such power is conferred exclusively to the federal government.