He took time off from Yale to work at the Southern Poverty Law Center, where he joined the fight against the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups.

[6] During his time in Nicaragua, his political philosophy was shaped by reading A Theory of Justice by liberal philosopher John Rawls.

[5] Romanoff obtained a master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University[7] and a J.D.

Since 2021, Romanoff has been executive director of Great Expectations,[12] a chief provider of guidance and support for at-risk families in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys.

Romanoff was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, winning election to four terms, and earning bipartisan acclaim as one of the most effective legislative leaders in America.

Romanoff authored laws to strengthen mental health and substance use services, to expand home and community-based care for older Coloradans, and to protect the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

He spearheaded the Colorado Economic Recovery Act (Referendum C)[14] and the largest investment in school construction in state history.

[15] Romanoff led the legislature to create The Colorado Channel,[16] providing live television coverage of the General Assembly.

Romanoff was on a short list of possible candidates for appointment to Salazar's seat,[18] but Governor Bill Ritter chose Denver schools' superintendent Michael Bennet.

[21] On June 2, 2010, Romanoff issued a statement confirming that Messina had contacted him on September 11, 2009, and told him that Obama was going to support Bennet in the Democratic Party primary.

[26] On February 7, 2019, Romanoff announced[27] his candidacy to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner in the 2020 election.