2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election explained

Election Name:2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election
Flag Image:Flag of Pueblo, Colorado.svg
Type:mayoral
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2018 Pueblo mayoral election
Previous Year:2018
Next Election:2027 Pueblo mayoral election
Next Year:2027
Election Date:November 7, 2023 (first round)
January 23, 2024 (runoff)
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Image1:3x4.svg
Candidate1:Heather Graham
Colour1:c0c0c0
1Data1:6,073
22.6%
2Data1:15,632
62.4%
Candidate2:Nick Gradisar
Colour2:c0c0c0
1Data2:5,604
20.8%
2Data2:9,427
37.6%
Image3:Chris Nicoll.jpg
Candidate3:Chris Nicoll
Colour3:c0c0c0
1Data3:3,553
13.2%
2Data3:Eliminated
Candidate4:Randy Thurston
Colour4:c0c0c0
1Data4:3,290
12.2%
2Data4:Eliminated
Candidate5:Dennis Flores
Colour5:c0c0c0
1Data5:3,109
11.6%
2Data5:Eliminated
Candidate6:Regina Maestri
Colour6:c0c0c0
1Data6:1,950
7.2%
2Data6:Eliminated
Candidate7:Larry Atencio
Colour7:c0c0c0
1Data7:1,933
7.2%
2Data7:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Nick Gradisar
Before Party:Colorado Democratic Party
After Election:Heather Graham
After Party:Colorado Republican Party

The 2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor of Pueblo, Colorado. Incumbent Democratic mayor Nick Gradisar ran for re-election to a second term in office. Since there was no candidate that received a majority of votes in the initial round of the election, a runoff election was held on January 23, 2024.[1] The election was officially nonpartisan, meaning that party affiliations are not listed on the ballot.[2]

A group collected signatures for a ballot initiative to eliminate the position of mayor and replace it with an unelected city manager. If it had passed, the 2023 mayoral election would have been canceled. Pueblo previously used the council-manager system for nearly a century before switching to a mayor-council system in 2017.[3] The group failed to collect enough signatures. It was discovered that Pueblo City Attorney Dan Kogovsek gave the initiative organizers incorrect information about how many signatures they would need to make the ballot, after which Kogovsek resigned at Gradisar's request.[4]

A total of nine candidates filed to run for mayor. Gradisar and Republican city council president Heather Graham prevailed over a wide field of candidates in the first round, including Republican former city council president Chris Nicoll, Republican former city councilor Randy Thurston, Democratic at-large city councilor Dennis Flores, Republican city councilor Regina Maestri, and Democratic city councilor Larry Atencio. The Republican candidates combined for 55.2% of the vote compared to 42.9% for the Democrats, with the balance going to an independent candidate.

Graham won the runoff in a landslide, unseating Gradisar and becoming Pueblo's first female mayor.[5]

Candidates

Declared

The following nine candidates made the ballot:

Failed to make ballot

Withdrew

Declined

First round

Results

Runoff

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the general election.

Results

External links

Official campaign websites

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pueblo 2023 Election Day live coverage and results . 2023-11-10 . . en-US.
  2. News: Winfrey . Anna . September 4, 2023 . Who's running in Pueblo elections in 2023? Here's who qualified for the ballot . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230905121258/https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/04/heres-who-is-running-for-mayor-and-city-council-in-pueblo-this-fall/70741921007/ . September 5, 2023 . September 5, 2023.
  3. News: Anti-mayor petition fails to collect enough signatures by Monday deadline . 25 January 2023.
  4. News: Anti-mayor petitioners vow lawsuit, city attorney to retire after organizers misled on signature requirement.
  5. Web site: 2024-01-24 . Heather Graham to be the next mayor of Pueblo, according to unofficial results . 2024-01-24 . KOAA News 5 . en.
  6. News: Winfrey . Anna . July 11, 2023 . Longtime city councilor officially launches bid for Pueblo mayor . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230711160731/https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/11/pueblo-city-councilor-officially-launches-bid-for-pueblo-mayor/70399215007/ . July 11, 2023 . July 11, 2023.
  7. News: Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar formally announces reelection bid.
  8. News: Bartolo . James . March 30, 2023 . Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores announces candidacy for mayor . . March 30, 2023.
  9. News: City council president Heather Graham announces bid for Pueblo mayor.
  10. News: Winfrey . Anna . August 7, 2023 . Another Pueblo city councilor joins the race for mayor . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230808115106/https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/07/pueblo-city-councilor-regina-maestri-joining-mayoral-race/70525646007/ . August 8, 2023 . August 8, 2023.
  11. News: Former Pueblo City Council president launches 2023 bid for mayor.
  12. News: Former city councilor Randy Thurston running for Pueblo mayor again.
  13. News: Pueblo livestreamer announces candidacy for mayor while smoking blunt on YouTube show.
  14. News: Winfrey . Anna . July 13, 2023 . District 2 race shaping up after Pueblo mayoral candidate drops out to run for council . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230713155314/https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/politics/2023/07/13/pueblo-business-owner-drops-out-of-mayors-race-to-run-for-city-council/70393502007/ . July 13, 2023 . July 13, 2023.
  15. News: Who is running for Pueblo mayor in 2023? Here's what we know. . 30 January 2023.

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