Barbara McLachlan

Barbara McLachlan returns for her third term as the state representative for Colorado House District 59, covering Archuleta, La Plata, Hinsdale, Ouray, San Juan, and a section of Gunnison counties.

A lifelong Coloradan from a multigenerational Colorado family, she received her bachelor’s degree in English from Fort Lewis College, her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Colorado State University, and a master’s degree in learning and teaching from Regis University.

As a former journalist for the Durango Herald, Representative McLachlan is passionate about media literacy and the strong tradition of independent journalism in Colorado. She is the chairwoman of the House Education committee, where she brings her expertise as a former teacher to advocate for Colorado educators and students and create opportunities for our educational system to flourish.

She serves on the Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee, working on behalf of the ranchers and farmers on the western slope, who have, for generations, been the lifeblood of the rural economy.

Representative McLachlan has two adult children, and lives with her husband, former State Representative Mike McLachlan. In her rare free moments, she enjoys strolling around picturesque Durango and taking in a good book.