Diane Mitsch Bush has, however, become a figure in Colorado. People in Colorado know her as an effective legislator. She was a County Commissioner from 2007 to 2012. She was a state representative from 2013 to 2017. As a state rep she won awards: Most effective freshman legislator, the Farmers Union's most effective legislator, the Livestock Association's most effective legislator, Conservation Colorado's Legislator of the year. Rural groups that don't necessarily agree with each other agree on her.