The speech was notable for its personal and somewhat somber tone. Polis reviewed the many unforeseeable events that challenged his governorship, as well as his administration's successes in housing and education, tax cuts and tax credits, and even fortunes spent on roads and bridges.
"Our beautiful, spectacular Colorado is matched only by the heart, the ingenuity, the creativity, the love and kindness of those who call our state home.
Seven years ago, I joined you all in delivering my first state of the state address and shared what an honor it is to be your governor in the time since Forces beyond us have shaped our reality in many ways, a once in a century pandemic widespread inflation, the biggest and most destructive fires in our state history, an unpredictable federal landscape, a massive wormhole connecting to the abyss with an upside down version of Colorado. And our only hope, a group of Dungeons and Dragons playing teenagers...maybe not that one, but despite it all we faced our challenges head on. Never lost sight of our values or what makes us who we are. We stared down the abyss. We've destroyed our metaphorical Vecnas and delivered big, bold progress for Colorado. While rolling, a natural 20 on landing Sundance, the All-Star Game and the Quantum Accelerator."
The governor also announced with pride that Colorado has the lowest childhood poverty rate in the nation. He called out Trump throughout the speech contrasting the president's attacks on groups with his own vision of a Colorado for all.
For his part. Trump has let it be known that he's no fan of polis. As the hour and a half address wound down, Governor Polis recalled some of his favorite moments visiting the divergent landscapes and communities of Colorado.
"Now, I've been called many things. Colorado's education governor, marijuana governor, tech bro, governor, gay, governor, socialist, fascist, communist, capitalist, libertarian, whatever it is. I just keep putting in the work. And let others decide the labels. But at the end of the day, it's always about delivering real results to leave our state better and the people that are in it than we found it. And it's also about showing loving kindness for everyone and everything. And I leave you with the advice to be kind and love your fellow humans.
Through it all, what will always stick with me are the special moments that during my time as governor, I got to experience visiting all 64 counties, picking and eating a fresh peach in Palisade warm from the Colorado sun, the breathtaking view from atop the Mesa at Fort Lewis College, attending church at All Saints Day in Otero County, trying with limited success to descend into the only active volcano in Colorado in Dotsero and a wire tied to a tree, taking our kids to see tarantulas crawl in near La Junta, picking Pueblo chilies, surprising seniors for lunch at the San Luis Senior Center, white-knuckling it on the drive to the top of Pikes Peak. Fulfilling a life goal by playing Red Rocks with Colorado South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. And of course getting married at the Merry Rippon Theatre at the University of Colorado, Marlon's alma mater.
Moments like speaking at the first preschool graduation ceremony for the class of, they were, they were a little bit more squirrely than you all during my speech, but it was also a little bit shorter.. reading of the first class of full day kindergartners. And of course, the people, the people, the people."
Jared Polis served five terms in Congress for Colorado's House District 2 before running for governor in 2018 and winning again in 2022. As a gay man in politics, he has achieved many firsts, including his election as governor. His style has been fairly centrist in a blue state as he often sided with businesses and vetoed bills from his fellow Democrats.
Governor Polis is term limited and will not run for election later this year. Find his complete speech here.
