In a politically divided household, Colorado House Majority Leader Monica Duran shares holidays with her conservative sons who support Trump. Despite heated debates, the family prioritizes unity over partisan differences. Duran's advocacy for gun control has even prompted one son to relocate.
Monica Duran, Colorado's House majority leader, leads Democratic efforts in the state legislature, managing hundreds of bills each session. Now in her eighth and final year due to term limits, she resides in a Denver suburb. Yet at home, she faces a Republican-leaning family: her two sons and late husband all voted for President Trump.
Discussions often turn passionate. "We're very vocal. Nothing is really held back," Duran says. When tensions rise, she calls a timeout, emphasizing, "Family comes before politics. It just has to."
Her eldest son, Patrick Ellis, studied political science and closely follows politics. He encouraged Duran's first run for office, asking, "Mom, why don't you do that for yourself?" Though they disagree on many issues, Ellis has voted for her—the only Democrat he supports. He focuses on shared values: "What she does for victims, for women, what she's done for animals... we're 100% in agreement."
Core divides persist, especially on gun policy. Duran championed stricter laws, including waiting periods and age limits for purchases. This prompted her younger son, David Duran, to move his family to Wyoming. "He's moved his family to Wyoming because of the direction Colorado is going," she explains. David declined an interview, but Duran acknowledges the impact: "I realize they've impacted what you feel are your freedoms."
Respect anchors their bond. Ellis notes, "My mom is my mother... She's my best friend." For the holidays, they gather for David's Mexican dishes, a nod to family traditions. Duran holds faint hope: someday, her sons might say, "Turns out Mom was right."
This story highlights how even political families maintain peace amid national divides.
