Transgender woman running for Colorado House seat

A Colorado Springs candidate for the state Legislature is making headlines and could make history.

Shari Zabel, 50, begins her political career – running for a seat in the Colorado statehouse.

This transgender woman knew something was different when she was a toddler.

“I’ve known about it since I was 3 years old,” Zabel said.

For more than 40 years Zabel lived as man, joining the Air Force and seeing combat.

She started transitioning two years ago. Now, she wants to transition to the state capitol, hoping to represent the north central part of Colorado Springs — House District 16.

Zabel calls painting therapeutic, helping her deal with intolerance.

“You get a lot of inappropriate questions,” she said. “What’s in between your legs? It’s not an appropriate question.”

Republican incumbent, Rep. Janak Joshi could face Zaber in the general election next year.

“I will be running a fair, positive and aggressive campaign on issues,” Joshi said.

As for Zabel, she’s not focused on who she is.

“My past, that I was a combat veteran, that’s actually good here in a conservative district,” Zabel said.

If she wins, Zabel would be the first transgender state lawmaker in Colorado. She doesn’t have a primary opponent She hopes her future will include a run for the U.S. Senate.