For 50 years, northeast Denver's Senate District 33 has been represented by an African-American. But when state Senator Peter Groff departed to take a post in President Barack Obama's administration, Democrats chose Michael Johnston, a Caucasian, to replace him, writes The Denver Post [2], which notes that Representative Terrance Carroll, who also represents northeast Denver, is now the Legislature's sole African-American. (Groff's father, Regis Groff, once held the same district seat as his son.) Groff, Colorado's first black Senate president, says the time has come for African-Americans to "look beyond northeast Denver if they want to hold districts in the Legislature," especially as the district's demographics are changing. In balloting, Johnston edged out African-American candidates, including term-limited Representative Rosemary Marshall (via the Denver Daily News [3]). Johnston, 34, is principal of Mapleton Expeditionary School for the Arts, in Thornton, and son of former Vail Mayor Paul Johnston, according to RealVail.com [4]. Last year, Westword [5] provided a profile of Johnston, noting that "Barack Obama Gives Principal Michael Johnston Extra Credit." Johnston's win represents "just one of a handful of district party gatherings expected within the next few weeks to choose successors for state lawmakers departing for greener pasture," The Colorado Independent [6] reports.