Who is Shannon Bird? | Biography
Shannon Kathleen Bird is an American attorney, economist, and Democratic politician. She represented Colorado House District 29 from 2019 until January 5, 2026. She resigned to focus on her campaign for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in the 2026 election.
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Bird was born on April 23, 1969, in Reno, Nevada. She was raised by her single mother and grandmother, who worked hard to support their family. Later, they moved to Colorado, where Bird built her education and career.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder. She later completed a Master of Science in Finance and an MBA at the University of Colorado Denver. Additionally, she received her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Denver.
Before entering politics, Bird worked in public finance and corporate law. She also became active in education advocacy by volunteering in local schools, leading a district bond campaign, and co-founding a community organization that promoted equitable learning opportunities.
Bird served on the Westminster City Council from 2015 to 2019 before winning election to the Colorado House in 2018. She won reelection in 2020 and 2022. From 2023 to 2026, she chaired the powerful Joint Budget Committee, helping craft Colorado’s multibillion-dollar state budget. Her legislative priorities included affordable housing, education funding, transportation, healthcare, public safety, and small business growth.
In May 2025, Bird announced her campaign for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. She is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Gabe Evans in the November 2026 general election. She resigned from the state legislature in January 2026, saying the congressional race required her full attention.
Bird is married and has two children. As of 2026, she remains one of Colorado’s most prominent Democratic leaders, campaigning on economic opportunity, reproductive rights, public education, climate action, and protecting democratic institutions.
Shannon Bird Age | How Old is Shannon Bird?
Shannon Bird is 57 years old as of 2026. She was born on April 23, 1969, in Reno, Nevada, United States. She celebrated her 57th birthday on April 23, 2026. Bird’s age reflects decades of experience in public service, law, and finance. Moreover, she has built a strong political career, serving in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2026. In 2026, she is campaigning for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, bringing her legislative and budget expertise to the congressional race.
Shannon Bird Height | How Tall is Shannon Bird?
Shannon Bird stands 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall. Her height complements her confident public presence during campaign events and legislative appearances. Moreover, Bird has represented Colorado House District 29 and now seeks election to Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. While voters often search for Shannon Bird’s height, they also follow her career in law, public finance, and state politics. Her leadership experience and policy work continue to define her public profile.
Shannon Bird Political Party | Is She a Democrat?
Shannon Bird is a member of the Democratic Party. She has represented the party throughout her political career in Colorado. Moreover, Bird served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2026 as a Democratic lawmaker. In 2026, she is running as a Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. Her campaign focuses on affordable healthcare, quality education, economic opportunity, reproductive rights, and protecting democracy. These priorities align closely with the Democratic Party’s platform.
Shannon Bird Education
Shannon Bird has an impressive educational background in economics, finance, business, and law. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder. Next, she completed a Master of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Colorado Denver. She then received her Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Furthermore, Bird became the first person in her family to attend college. Her academic achievements laid the foundation for successful careers in public finance, corporate law, and public service.
Shannon Bird Religion
Shannon Bird has not publicly disclosed her religion or religious affiliation as of 2026. Her official campaign website, legislative biography, and trusted news sources do not identify her faith. Therefore, no verified source confirms whether Bird practices a particular religion or denomination. Instead, she has focused her public career on education, affordable housing, healthcare, economic opportunity, and fiscal responsibility.
Shannon Bird Husband | Is Shannon Bird married?
Shannon Bird is married to David Bird. The couple has been married for more than 19 years and lives in Westminster, Colorado. Throughout Shannon Bird’s political career, David has largely remained out of the public spotlight. Nevertheless, he has supported her public service and congressional campaign. Together, they have built a family centered on education, community involvement, and public service.
Shannon Bird Children
Shannon Bird and her husband, David Bird, have two children, Elizabeth and James. Bird often credits her family with inspiring her commitment to public education and stronger communities. Despite her public career, she has worked to protect her children’s privacy. Additionally, the family lives in Westminster, Colorado, where Bird balances public service with family life.
Shannon Bird Family | Parents, Siblings, and Early Life
Shannon Bird was raised by her single mother and grandmother in Reno, Nevada before her family moved to Colorado. Her mother worked as an insurance company clerk, while her grandmother worked as a blackjack dealer. They instilled the values of hard work, resilience, and public service. Furthermore, Bird became the first person in her family to attend college. However, she has not publicly disclosed whether she has any siblings or revealed their identities. She continues to keep those family details private.
Shannon Bird for Congress | Campaign, Elections, and Who She Is Running Against
Shannon Bird is the Democratic candidate seeking to represent Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in the 2026 election. She launched her campaign in May 2025 after serving in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to January 2026. Bird resigned from the legislature to devote her full attention to the congressional race. Her campaign highlights affordable healthcare, public education, economic opportunity, immigration reform, reproductive rights, and fiscal responsibility. She also emphasizes her experience as chair of Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee, where she helped oversee the state’s multibillion-dollar budget.
Bird is competing against State Representative Manny Rutinel in the June 30, 2026, Democratic primary. The winner will challenge Republican incumbent Gabe Evans in the November 3, 2026, general election. Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is widely considered one of the nation’s most competitive House battlegrounds and could influence control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Recent weeks have seen an intense primary campaign marked by major outside spending, endorsements, and sharp contrasts between Bird’s pragmatic, bipartisan message and Rutinel’s more progressive platform.
Shannon Bird Policies and Political Views
Shannon Bird is a moderate Democrat who emphasizes affordability, fiscal responsibility, and bipartisan leadership. She has made lowering the cost of housing, healthcare, childcare, groceries, and utilities the centerpiece of her congressional campaign. Additionally, Bird supports expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing affordable housing, and protecting Social Security and Medicare. She also advocates for reproductive rights, public education, climate action, and stronger protections for workers and small businesses.
Furthermore, Bird supports comprehensive immigration reform while calling for accountability and oversight of federal immigration enforcement. She backs common-sense gun safety measures, including universal background checks and red flag laws. Moreover, she supports defending democracy, voting rights, and the rule of law. Throughout her campaign, Bird has highlighted her record as chair of Colorado’s Joint Budget Committee, presenting herself as a pragmatic leader focused on delivering measurable results for Colorado families.
Shannon Bird Voting Record | Key Legislative Votes and Policy Positions
Shannon Bird built a reputation as a pragmatic Democrat during her service in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2019 to 2026. Although she voted with most Democrats on the majority of legislation, she occasionally broke with her party on high-profile bills. For example, Bird voted against proposals to allow local rent control, ban the sale of assault weapons, and authorize supervised overdose prevention centers. She also opposed some immigration bills that sought to further restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Despite those votes, Bird consistently supported increased funding for public education, affordable housing, healthcare, transportation, and public safety. As chair of the Joint Budget Committee, she played a leading role in writing Colorado’s multibillion-dollar state budget. Bird has defended her voting record by emphasizing fiscal responsibility, bipartisan problem-solving, and practical solutions over strict party-line positions. Her independent approach has become a defining feature of her 2026 congressional campaign.
Shannon Bird Previous Offices
Shannon Bird has held several elected offices in Colorado before launching her 2026 congressional campaign. She first entered public office by serving on the Westminster City Council, where she focused on local government, economic development, and community issues. Later, she won election to the Colorado House of Representatives, where she served for seven years. During her legislative tenure, she also chaired the influential Joint Budget Committee, overseeing Colorado’s multibillion-dollar state budget. She resigned from the legislature in January 2026 to campaign full-time for Congress.
Previous Offices
- Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado’s 8th Congressional District (2026–Present)
- Member, Colorado House of Representatives, District 29 (January 2023 – January 2026)
- Member, Colorado House of Representatives, District 35 (January 2019 – January 2023)
- Chair, Colorado Joint Budget Committee (January 2023 – January 2026)
- Member, Colorado House Finance Committee (2021 – January 2026)
- Member, Westminster City Council (2015 – 2019)
Throughout these roles, Bird championed education, affordable housing, healthcare, public safety, transportation, and fiscal responsibility. Her experience at both the local and state levels forms the foundation of her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Shannon Bird Net Worth
Shannon Bird’s exact net worth remains undisclosed as of 2026. Her 2025 congressional financial disclosure lists a Westminster rental property valued between $500,001 and $1 million, Colorado PERA retirement benefits, bank accounts, and mineral rights in North Dakota. Additionally, she reported rental and royalty income. Because federal disclosures provide asset value ranges, no verified total net worth is available. Her wealth stems from public finance, corporate law, real estate, and public service.
Biography Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shannon Kathleen Bird |
| Known As | Shannon Bird |
| Date of Birth | April 23, 1969 |
| Age (2026) | 57 years old |
| Birthplace | Reno, Nevada, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) |
| Education | B.A. in Economics, University of Colorado Boulder; M.S. in Finance and MBA, University of Colorado Denver; J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law |
| Profession | Attorney, Economist, Politician |
| Current Position | Democratic Candidate for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District (2026) |
| Previous Offices | Westminster City Council (2015–2019); Colorado House District 35 (2019–2023); Colorado House District 29 (2023–2026); Chair, Joint Budget Committee (2023–2026) |
| Years Active in Public Office | 2015–Present |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | David Bird |
| Children | Elizabeth Bird and James Bird |
| Parents | Raised by her single mother and grandmother |
| Siblings | Not publicly disclosed |
| Residence | Westminster, Colorado, United States |
| Political Views | Moderate Democrat focused on affordability, education, healthcare, fiscal responsibility, climate action, and reproductive rights |
| 2026 Election | Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District |
| Primary Opponent | Manny Rutinel |
| General Election Opponent (if nominated) | Gabe Evans (Republican incumbent) |
| Key Campaign Issues | Affordable healthcare, education, housing, economic opportunity, immigration reform, gun safety, democracy, and fiscal responsibility |
| Estimated Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed; 2025 financial disclosure lists real estate, PERA retirement benefits, bank accounts, and North Dakota mineral rights. |




