The Legacy of Faith Winter: A Life Defined by Advocacy, Resilience, and Complex Human Truths

Introduction: A State in Mourning

In the fading light of Thanksgiving Eve, November 26, 2025, Colorado lost one of its most vibrant and relentless legislative voices. Senator Faith Winter, a Broomfield Democrat known for her fierce advocacy for women, transit, and working families, died in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 25 in Centennial. She was 45 years old.

The news sent shockwaves through the Colorado State Capitol and the communities she served. Winter was not just a politician; she was a mother, a fiancée, and a survivor whose public career was often intertwined with her private struggles. Her death is a poignant irony: a leader who spent over a decade fighting for safer roads and modernized transit met her end on a highway she worked tirelessly to improve.

Chapter 1: The Architect of Modern Colorado

Faith Winter’s political journey was defined by a commitment to “organizing at heart.” Long before she walked the halls of the State Senate, she was a community leader, serving on the Westminster City Council from 2007 to 2014.

A Trailblazer for Women

Winter’s impact on Colorado’s political culture cannot be overstated. In 2017, then-Representative Winter sparked a monumental shift in the state’s #MeToo movement when she publicly accused a colleague of sexual harassment. Her courage led to the first expulsion of a lawmaker in modern Colorado history and forced a total overhaul of the Capitol’s workplace harassment policies.

Legislative Landmarks

As Chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, Winter was the primary architect of SB21-260, a landmark $5 billion transportation package that modernized how Colorado funds its roads and bridges while prioritizing environmental sustainability and transit access. She also championed:

Paid Family and Medical Leave: A program she helped build from the ground up to ensure no Coloradan has to choose between their job and their family.
Environmental Protection: Using her background in Environmental Management to push for cleaner air and renewable energy transition.
Youth Engagement: One of her final legislative efforts was creating paths for youth representation on environmental boards.

Chapter 2: The Human Behind the Title

While her legislative record was formidable, Faith Winter was beloved for her authenticity. She was known for her “orange dresses,” her adorement for flowers, and her dog, Queso, who was a frequent visitor to the Capitol.

Family and Personal Life

Winter was the mother of two children, Tobin and Sienna, whom she often brought into her political world. Whether it was her daughter selling Girl Scout cookies outside the Senate chambers or her fiancé, former State Representative Matt Gray, supporting her campaigns, her family was her “anchor.”

The Struggle with Resilience

Winter’s life was also a testament to human fragility. In 2022, she nearly died from a sudden autoimmune disease diagnosis. A year later, she suffered a serious head injury in a bicycle accident. In 2024, she made the courageous choice to publicly acknowledge her struggle with alcohol use disorder, seeking treatment after a public incident. To many, her willingness to face her demons with honesty was as inspiring as her legislative victories.

Chapter 3: The Tragedy on I-25

The details of the accident that claimed Winter’s life are as complex as they are tragic. On November 26, 2025, just after 6:00 p.m., a multi-vehicle pileup occurred near Dry Creek Road.

The Findings of the Investigation

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office concluded a weeks-long investigation in December 2025. The report determined that Winter’s vehicle rear-ended a stopped Ford F-350 flatbed truck in the left traffic lane.

An autopsy later revealed that Winter was driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.185%, more than twice the legal limit. This revelation added a layer of profound grief to the tragedy, as it highlighted the relentless nature of the disease she had fought so hard to overcome. Her passing serves as a somber reminder of the ongoing crisis of substance use disorder, even among those with the greatest access to support and the strongest desire to heal.

Chapter 4: A State Moving Forward

Faith Winter’s seat in Senate District 25 was eventually filled by a party vacancy committee, but her leadership style—a mix of “fierce warrior” and “compassionate hug”—is not easily replaced.

Unfinished Business

Winter left several critical initiatives in the pipeline, particularly regarding RTD accountability and transit-oriented communities. Her colleagues have vowed to carry these bills forward as a tribute to her vision.

Transit Reform: Continuing her work to make public transit a viable, clean option for every Coloradan.
Cultural Shift: Maintaining the inclusive, transparent environment she fought to build within the “Gold Dome.”

Chapter 5: Conclusion — Faith’s Final Lesson

The story of Faith Winter is one of “full color.” It is a story of a woman who was brilliant, brave, and flawed. She taught Colorado how to fight for justice, how to lead with empathy, and how to be honest about one’s struggles.

As the orange ribbons from her memorial service fade, her legacy remains in the smooth pavement of modernized highways, the security of paid leave for new parents, and the “braver” voices of women in politics who saw her stand tall and realized they could do the same.

Faith Winter lived in full color, and she loved in full color. Her final lesson to the state she loved is perhaps the most difficult one: that greatness and struggle often share the same heart, and that our worth is measured not by our perfection, but by the tenacity with which we give back to others.