Representative Julie McCluskie

Julie McCluskie
State Representative for House District 61

In 2018, Julie was elected State Representative for House District 61 which includes five of the most beautiful counties in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and along the Western Slope.  In her first session, she was appointed to serve on the Rural Affairs & Agriculture, Education and Appropriations committees. Over the 2019-2020 fiscal year, she was selected to Chair both the School Finance Interim and Appropriations Committees.  Most notably, she was honored to receive an appointment to the prestigious six-person Joint Budget Committee in January 2020.  

Her legislative accomplishments include passing:

  • A statewide Reinsurance Program which brought down health insurance premiums on the individual marketplace 30% on the Western Slope;
  • Numerous education bills including a renewal of the READ Act, establishing statewide concurrent enrollment access and the creation of a new higher education funding formula;
  • A referred nicotine tax 2020 ballot measure that will provide new funding for rural schools, the state education fund and ultimately an expansion of early childhood education programs statewide.

Background in Mental Health

Currently, McCluskie currently serves as a board member on The Summit Foundation helping to support working families in Summit County and neighboring communities.  She served as a board member for Advocates for Victims of Assault in Summit County and served as an advisory board member for Building Hope Summit County, a community initiative to improve and increase access to mental health services; and as a key leader on Communities that Care, an effort to prevent youth substance use.  She was a member of the Colorado Educator Preparation Innovation Coalition (COEduPIC) which addressed teacher shortages and improved preparation programs across the state.  

Born and raised in Colorado and a graduate of Colorado State University, Julie and her husband Jamie have spent most of their married years in the Rocky Mountains.  They are proud parents of two children, Ian and Cait, and enjoy spending family time in Colorado’s great outdoors.