Democratic Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper introduced his lieutenant governor, Joe Garcia, as a “sex star” at an elementary school literacy event and quickly amended his remark, saying he meant to call him a sex “symbol.”

According to the Denver Post, the event was held at Colfax Elementary School in Denver before about 40 children.

“Now I get to introduce that rising sex star — symbol. I mean, symbol — not star,” said Hickenlooper, according to audio captured by the radio station KOA.

“This might go down as one of my most difficult press conferences in the history of the office.”

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