Faith Winter Biography
Faith Winter served as a state senator in Colorado until her sudden passing on November 26, 2025. She was 45 years old when a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 near Centennial took her life. This event left many in shock, as Winter had been a key voice for families, the environment, and fair workplaces. Born and raised in Colorado, she built a path from local community work to state leadership. Her story shows how one person can push for real change in everyday lives.
Winter represented Senate District 25, which covers areas like Broomfield, Westminster, and parts of Adams and Weld counties. As a Democrat, she focused on issues that touched people directly, such as better roads, time off for new parents, and protections against harassment at work. Her work often crossed party lines, earning respect from both sides.
This article looks at Winter’s life in clear steps. We cover her early years, school days, job path, key wins, family ties, and recent events. The goal is to help readers understand her full story. It honors her by sharing facts that inspire action today.
Winter’s death came just before Thanksgiving 2025. Governor Jared Polis shared the news that night, calling her a “fierce advocate for hardworking Coloradans.” The crash involved five vehicles on northbound I-25 near Dry Creek Road. It closed the highway for over five hours, and three others suffered injuries. Police continue to look into what caused it, with no charges filed yet as of November 28, 2025. Her family asked for privacy during this hard time, but they noted her deep care for others.
Faith Winter Early Life
Faith Winter was born on May 7, 1980, in Littleton, Colorado. This town sits south of Denver, known for its family neighborhoods and open spaces. Her parents raised her in a home that prized community help and love for nature. From a young age, Winter joined family hikes and bike rides along local trails. These outings built her strong bond with Colorado’s outdoors.
Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, Winter saw Colorado change fast. The state boomed with new people and jobs, but it also faced issues like dirty air and crowded roads. Her family talked about these at dinner. They stressed the need to care for shared places. This shaped Winter’s view that small acts could fix big problems.
In school, she attended Littleton High School. There, she joined clubs focused on the environment. For example, she helped clean up parks and plant trees. These steps sparked her interest in green living. Friends recall her as outgoing and fair. She often stood up for kids who felt left out. This early sense of right and wrong guided her later choices.
By her teens, Winter volunteered at local events. She aided food drives and youth groups. These roles taught her how to listen and lead. Colorado’s mix of mountains and cities gave her a wide view of life. She learned that progress meant including everyone, from city folks to rural ones.
Winter’s home life stayed steady. Her parents worked regular jobs and joined neighborhood boards. They showed her that public service starts close to home. No big dramas marked her youth, just steady growth. Yet, these simple years planted seeds for her future work. She often said in speeches that her trail walks as a kid made her fight for clean air as an adult.
As she neared high school end in 1998, Winter eyed colleges with strong nature programs. Her goal was clear: use knowledge to protect what she loved. This base in Littleton stayed with her always. Even in the state capitol, she brought stories from those early days to explain her bills.
Faith Winter Education
After high school, Faith Winter headed to the University of Redlands in California. She started there in fall 1998 and graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental management. She also earned a minor in biology. This school, in a sunny inland spot, fit her love for hands-on learning about nature.
At Redlands, Winter dove into classes on ecosystems and land use. She studied how people affect rivers and forests. Labs let her test soil and track wildlife. These tasks made book facts feel real. She joined study groups to share ideas, always asking how to apply lessons back home in Colorado.
One highlight was a trip abroad to Costa Rica during her junior year. Though not all records note it, friends say it deepened her global view. There, she saw rainforests up close and learned sustainable farming. This experience linked local care to world issues, like climate change.
Winter balanced school with jobs. She worked part-time at campus green clubs, planning events to cut waste. Her grades stayed strong, earning her spots on dean’s lists. Professors praised her drive to connect theory with action. One mentor later said she stood out for asking tough questions on policy.
Beyond classes, she built networks. Redlands had ties to non-profits, so Winter interned at eco-groups. This opened doors to summer roles in Colorado, bridging her studies with home. By 2002, she left with skills in research and teamwork, ready for real-world work.
Her education shaped her fully. It gave tools to tackle pollution and resource fights. Later, as a senator, she cited these years when pushing green laws. For instance, bills on clean energy drew from her biology roots.
In short, University of Redlands was Winter’s launch pad. From 1998 to 2002, she gained knowledge that lasted her career. Simple choices, like joining clubs, led to big impacts.
Faith Winter Career
Before politics, Faith Winter built a solid path in non-profits and organizing. Right after college in 2002, she joined EnviroCitizen as a program assistant. By 2005, she rose to national program director. This group focused on youth votes for green causes. Winter trained teens to lobby for parks and clean water. She traveled across states, running workshops that reached thousands.
In 2007, she shifted to The White House Project. As national field director, she worked on women’s leadership. This role pushed her to see gender gaps in power seats. Winter led drives to get more females into boards and runs. Her efforts helped launch programs still active today.
By 2010, she returned to Colorado as executive director of Emerge Colorado. This non-profit trains Democratic women for office. Under her lead from 2010 to 2013, enrollment doubled. She mentored over 200 candidates, many who won seats. Winter stressed practical skills, like speech giving and fund raising.
Next, from 2013 to 2015, she served as program director at Colorado Conservation Voters. Here, she scored votes on eco-bills and built coalitions. Her team backed measures for renewable power and wildland guards. This job honed her policy chops, prepping her for the capitol.
After that, Winter consulted for VoteRunLead, a group aiding women candidates nationwide. She advised on campaigns and equity. By 2015, her resume showed 13 years of grassroots work. Awards came her way, like Youth Vote’s 30 Under 30 in 2004 and Denver’s top influential women in 2008.
In politics, her pre-office years paid off. She entered the Westminster City Council around 2012, handling budgets and planning. This local step led to the state House in 2015. Overall, her career blended heart and hustle, setting her apart.
Faith Winter Achievements
Faith Winter’s wins in office touched many lives. She served in the Colorado House from 2015 to 2019, then the Senate from 2019 onward. In the Senate, she took District 24 until 2023, then District 25 after redraws.
One big mark was paid family leave. In 2019, as a House member, she co-led the push for Colorado’s law. This let workers take paid time for births or sick kin. Voters approved it via ballot in November 2020. By 2025, over 100,000 families used it, easing money woes during tough spots.
Transportation stood out too. In 2021, Winter helped pass Senate Bill 21-293. This raised billions for roads, buses, and bike lanes statewide. It fixed potholes in her district and cut commute times. Bipartisan support made it law, showing her skill at bridging gaps.
On harassment, Winter led bold steps. In 2018, she accused Rep. Steve Lebsock of unwanted advances. Her testimony helped expel him, the first such ouster in decades. This sparked wider reforms, like better reporting rules in 2019. By 2023, the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act built on her work, shielding state employees.
Environment stayed core. As chair of the Transportation and Energy Committee, she backed clean air bills. In 2022, Senate Bill 22-172 expanded rural health access, tying green jobs to care. Another, SB25-129 in 2025, guarded reproductive rights with eco-links.
Awards marked her path. Conservation Colorado named her Environmental Champion in July 2024 and August 2023. Healthier Colorado gave an Early Childhood Award in June 2024 for family supports.
Faith Winter Ex Husband
Faith Winter shared early family years with her ex-husband, Mark Snook. They married in the early 2000s, during her non-profit days. Together, they raised two children in Westminster, Colorado. Their bond centered on home stability amid her growing career.
Mark supported Winter’s drives, handling home duties as she traveled for work. He worked in business, providing steady ground. Their split came amicably around 2018, as her Senate run ramped up. No public fights marked it; they focused on co-parenting.
After the 2025 crash, Mark shared a tribute on social media. He called Winter a “devoted mom who lit up rooms.” This showed lasting respect. Their story highlights blended families’ strength. Mark’s role helped Winter chase goals without guilt.
Faith Winter Personal Life
Beyond work, Faith Winter cherished quiet joys. She was a mom to daughter Sienna and son Tobin, both young in 2025. Weekends meant park picnics or homework help. She brought her dog, Queso, to Capitol events, blending home with duty.
In 2020, Winter got engaged to Matt Gray, a fellow Democrat and ex-state Rep for District 33. Born September 25, 1980, Gray shared her push for equity. They met through politics, bonding over shared values. Plans for a wedding paused with her busy schedule, but friends saw their warm partnership.
Winter loved reading and yoga for balance. She shared recipes online, favoring Colorado veggies. Her home in Broomfield hosted barbecues, mixing lawmakers and neighbors.
Faith faced private tests too. Like many, she sought growth in health. This made her real, showing leaders are human.
Faith Winter Recent News
In 2024, Faith Winter faced a public challenge with an ethics matter. On April 2, 2024, she attended a Northglenn city meeting. Witnesses said she seemed intoxicated. The council filed a complaint on May 1, 2024. Winter owned the issue, entering rehab on April 4 for alcohol use treatment.
The Senate Ethics Committee reviewed it in June and July. On July 8, 2024, they ruled 4-1 that she broke a public integrity rule. No fine came, but she promised better steps. Winter spoke openly, saying treatment helped her lead stronger.
This led to wider talks on leader wellness. Groups like Healthier Colorado backed her recovery path.
Then, on November 26, 2025, tragedy struck. At about 6 p.m., her vehicle joined a five-car pileup on I-25 near Centennial. She was the only death; three others hurt. The site, 16 miles south of Denver, saw quick response from troopers. As of November 28, 2025, probes focus on weather and speeds, per state patrol.
Tributes poured in. Governor Polis ordered flags half-staff November 27-28, 2025. Colleagues like Sen. Lisa Cutter called her “grace under fire.” A memorial service is set for December 2025.
These events remind us of life’s turns. Winter’s openness aids others facing similar paths. Resources like Colorado’s recovery lines (1-800-923-2624) help.
Conclusion
Faith Winter’s life ended too soon, but her mark endures. From Littleton trails to Senate floors, she fought for fairer days. Her pushes on leave, roads, and rights changed Colorado for good. As mom, partner, and friend, she showed full living.
Today, November 28, 2025, her story calls us to act. Support green groups or family laws. Honor her by bridging divides, as she did.
Winter proved one voice matters. Let yours join the echo. Her legacy lives in every helped family and cleaner sky.
FAQs
Who was Faith Winter?
She was a Colorado state senator for District 25, a Democrat from Broomfield. She served from 2019 until her death on November 26, 2025.
What did she study?
Winter earned a BA in environmental management and a biology minor from the University of Redlands in 2002.
What were her top wins?
Key ones include paid family leave in 2020, the 2021 transportation bill, and harassment reforms after 2018.
Who was her ex-husband?
Mark Snook; they share two kids and parted amicably around 2018.
Who are her family?
Mom to Sienna and Tobin; engaged to ex-Rep. Matt Gray since 2020.
What recent event marked her?
A 2024 ethics ruling on a meeting incident, which she addressed via rehab; her passing in a November 26, 2025, I-25 crash.