Kerry Elizabeth Donovan (born 1978/1979) is an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Colorado Senate from the 5th district. She also served as president pro tempore of the Colorado Senate from 2021-2023. Prior to entering the state legislature, she was active in local politics in Vail, Colorado. Donovan was born in Vail and educated at the University of Notre Dame. She entered politics with her election to the town council in Vail. She won election to the state senate to succeed term-limited Gail Schwartz. During her tenure in the state senate, she was selected to serve as Majority Whip and President pro tempore. Early life and education Kerry Donovan was born to John and Diana Donovan in Vail, Colorado. Her grandfather served in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology. She is married to Shad Murib. Donovan served one term on the town council in Vail. Career Colorado Senate Elections Senator Gail Schwartz was unable to seek reelection in the 2014 election due to term limits. Donovan won the Democratic nomination to succeed Schwartz and defeated Republican nominee Don Suppes, who served as mayor of Orchard, Colorado, and Libertarian nominee Lee Mulcahy. During the campaign she had raised around $150,000 against Suppes' $107,000 and Mulcahy's $2,750. She won reelection after defeating Republican nominee Olen Lund in the 2018 election. During the campaign she raised around $228,000 to Lund's $21,000. Tenure During Donovan's tenure she served as chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee and as a member of the Transportation and Energy, and Legislative Council committees. Donovan was selected to serve as Majority Whip in 2018. She was selected to replace Senator Nancy Todd, who was term-limited, as president pro tempore of the state senate in 2020. Donovan was one of the people Jared Polis considered for selection as his lieutenant gubernatorial running mate during the 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election, but Polis selected Dianne Primavera instead. During the 2020 presidential election she endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic presidential nomination. Congressional campaigns In 2017, Donovan declined to run for the Democratic nomination in Colorado's 2nd congressional district after Representative Polis announced that he would run for governor. In 2020, Donovan considered a run for the United States Senate, but ended up declining and endorsed then, Former Governor John