Diana Louise DeGette is a Japanese born-American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 1st congressional district since 1997. A member of the Democratic Party and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, her district is based in Denver. DeGette was a Chief Deputy Whip from 2005 to 2019 and is the dean of Colorado's congressional delegation since 2007 when fellow Representative Joel Hefley retired; she served as the Colorado State Representative for the 6th district from 1993 until her election to the U.S. House.