Gov.-elect Phil Weiser Nominates Cleave Simpson for Colorado Department of Agriculture
Cleave Simpson, a fourth-generation farmer and rancher from Alamosa with extensive water policy experience, has been nominated by Gov.-elect Phil Weiser to lead the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The selection marks Weiser's first cabinet pick since his election.
Simpson currently serves as the general manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. He has been a state Senator since the 2021 session, elected minority leader in June 2025 after Sen. Paul Lundeen resigned. Simpson graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1984, according to The Gazette.
Groundwater Rules in the Valley
Colorado's groundwater framework operates under a system of permits and water rights, with new wells diverting groundwater typically requiring permits. Wells without senior enough dates may operate under a water court-decreed augmentation plan. Groundwater pumping can also deplete surface water, and water rights administration may include curtailing junior rights lacking augmentation plans or administrative approval.
Repairing Rural-Urban Relationships
Agricultural community leaders view Simpson's nomination as a strategic move by Weiser to mend fences with rural Colorado and the agricultural sector, which felt overlooked during Gov. Jared Polis' administration. The Gazette reported that outgoing commissioner Kate Greenberg's lack of production agriculture experience contributed to a rift between the agriculture community and the Polis administration that never fully healed.
Confirmation and District Discrepancy
Simpson will succeed Greenberg, who was the first woman to hold the agriculture commissioner post. His nomination must be confirmed by the state Senate once it convenes in January. Leaving the Senate, Simpson will trigger a vacancy in Senate District 35, requiring a GOP vacancy committee to select his replacement. The Durango Herald reported that Simpson had settled into District 6 following redistricting, but the discrepancy between the two district numbers remains unclear.
A Cross-Party Appointment
Colorado has seen similar appointments before, such as when Gov. John Hickenlooper selected Republican Don Brown as agriculture commissioner in 2015. Brown served through the end of Hickenlooper's term, and Simpson's nomination makes him the second Republican to hold the post in a recent Democratic administration.
Industry Support for Simpson
Agricultural organizations and rural leaders have welcomed Simpson's nomination. Erin Karney Spaur, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, praised Simpson as a friend.