2023 Denver mayoral election explained

Election Name:2023 Denver mayoral election
Country:Denver
Flag Image:Flag of Denver, Colorado.svg
Type:mayoral
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2019 Denver mayoral election
Previous Year:2019
Election Date:April 4, 2023 (first round)
June 6, 2023 (runoff)
Next Election:2027 Denver mayoral election
Next Year:2027
1Blank:First round
2Blank:Runoff
Turnout:33.49% (first round)[1]
31.13% (runoff)[2]
Image1:Michael Johnston (closer crop).jpg
Candidate1:Mike Johnston
Color1:c0c0c0
1Data1:42,273
24.5%
2Data1:89,889
55.15%
Candidate2:Kelly Brough
Color2:c0c0c0
1Data2:34,627
20.0%
2Data2:73,097
44.85%
Image3:Lisa Calderon at 2019 Denver Mayoral Debate (cropped).png
Candidate3:Lisa Calderón
Color3:c0c0c0
1Data3:31,493
18.2%
2Data3:Eliminated
Candidate4:Andy Rougeot
Color4:c0c0c0
1Data4:19,927
11.5%
2Data4:Eliminated
Image5:Leslie Herod (cropped).JPG
Candidate5:Leslie Herod
Color5:c0c0c0
1Data5:18,506
10.7%
2Data5:Eliminated
Mayor
Before Election:Michael Hancock
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Mike Johnston
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

The 2023 Denver mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023 to elect the mayor of Denver, Colorado, with a runoff held on June 6.[3] The election was officially nonpartisan and was held concurrently with elections for the Denver City Council, as well as city auditor and city clerk and recorder. Incumbent Democratic mayor Michael Hancock was term-limited and could not seek a fourth term in office. A historic field of seventeen candidates filed to run in the race to succeed Hancock.[4]

Since no candidate won a majority in the first round, former state senator Mike Johnston and former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough advanced to a runoff. Candidates eliminated in the first round included Emerge Colorado executive director Lisa Calderón, maintenance executive Andy Rougeot, and state representative Leslie Herod.[5] [6] Brough and Johnston were considered to be two of the more moderate candidates in the field, with the more progressive candidates like Calderón and Herod losing in the initial primary.[7]

Although Brough and Johnston shared similar ideological positions, Johnston was supported by leading progressive figures in the runoff, including Calderón and Herod, while Brough was supported by more conservative groups, including the local police union and the Denver Republican Party.[8] [9] Johnston won the runoff by a comfortable margin, with Brough conceding the race on the night of the election.[10]

Candidates

Advanced to the runoff

These candidates advanced to the runoff election to be held on June 6.

Eliminated in the first round

These candidates qualified to appear on the ballot, but were eliminated in the first round.[4]

Disqualified

Withdrew

Declined

First round

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 14, 2023[56]
CandidateContributionsFair Elections
Fund payouts		ExpendituresCash on hand
Renate Behrens$429$0$408$21
Kelly Brough$644,299$750,000$790,625$382,544
Lisa Calderón$69,013$195,351$127,457$58,161
Al Gardner$13,770$0$8,682$5,088
Chris Hansen$200,675$375,187$440,197$18,532
Leslie Herod$332,646$587,057$608,704$162,726
Mike Johnston$547,004$613,539$580,999$220,684
Aurelio Martinez$12,124$37,259$15,645$33,744
Debbie Ortega$144,186$249,705$254,685$81,326
Terrance Roberts$26,482$73,908$78,870$11,043
Trinidad Rodriguez$58,166$120,243$80,735$72,696
Andy Rougeot$806,000$0$752,359$46,951
Kwame Spearman$100,266$188,406$206,524$17,182
Ean Tafoya$47,556$153,713$144,029$11,796
Robert Treta$125$0$0$125
James Walsh$15,521$51,219$26,034$33,991
Thomas Wolf$21,485$105,329$111,805$7,324

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size		Margin
of error		Kelly
Brough		Lisa
Calderón		Chris
Hansen		Leslie
Herod		Mike
Johnston		Debbie
Ortega		Andy
Rougeot		Ean
Tafoya		OtherUndecided
SurveyUSA/9NewsFebruary 21–28, 2023594 (LV)± 4.9%5%5%4%3%5%4%2%1%13%58%
Chism Strategies (D)/Cygnal (R)February 9–10, 2023405 (LV)± 4.9%8%3%4%6%5%4%3%–9%59%
Searchlight Research (D)January 11–14, 2023500 (LV)± 4%4%8%6%8%6%16%–1%3%47%

Results

Runoff

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.

Results

External links

Official campaign websites
Others

Notes and References

  1. Web site: April 17, 2023 . Election Summary Report . January 16, 2024 . City and County of Denver.
  2. Web site: June 16, 2023 . Election Summary Report . January 16, 2024 . City and County of Denver.
  3. News: Edwards . Alex . Who will end up in a runoff for Denver mayor? It's anyone's guess, experts weigh in . 4 April 2023 . Denver Gazette . 28 February 2023 . en.
  4. News: Here are the mayoral candidates who qualified for the ballot . 27 January 2023.
  5. News: It's official: Denver mayoral candidates Mike Johnston, Kelly Brough will advance to June runoff election.
  6. News: Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough are heading to the Denver mayoral election runoff, according to latest results.
  7. News: Denver's more moderate mayoral candidates Johnston, Brough pull ahead . . 5 April 2023 . 7 June 2023.
  8. News: Progressive voters are major X factor in Denver mayor's race . 5 April 2023 . . 7 June 2023 . Alvarez . Alayna.
  9. News: Q&A: Political experts size up Denver mayoral runoff between Mike Johnston, Kelly Brough . . 7 June 2023 . Luning . Ernest . 2 June 2023.
  10. News: Johnston claims victory, Brough concedes in runoff for Denver mayor . 9News . 6 June 2023 . Powell . Erin . 7 June 2023.
  11. Web site: Kelly Brough, longtime CEO of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, is running for mayor . 2022-08-15 . Denverite . August 15, 2022 . en-US.
  12. News: Denver Mayoral Candidates 2023: Kelly Brough.
  13. Web site: Mike Johnston running for Denver mayor in 2023 as field balloons . 16 November 2022.
  14. Web site: Mayoral candidate Renate Behrens doesn't have a website, but she does have a lot of ideas for the city. February 9, 2023 .
  15. Web site: Brough, Johnston rack up endorsements in Denver mayoral runoff . Colorado Newsline . Woodruff . Chase . May 15, 2023 . May 15, 2023 . en-US.
  16. Web site: Lisa Calderón announces run for Denver mayor in 2023 . 13 October 2022 .
  17. Web site: Lisa Calderón endorses Mike Johnston for Denver Mayor . The Denver Gazette . Edwards . Alex . May 16, 2023 . May 16, 2023 . en-US.
  18. Web site: Al Gardner jumps into Denver mayor's race; 24 candidates now vying for the seat. Julia. Cardi. Denver Gazette. December 6, 2022 .
  19. Web site: Johnston secures endorsement from former opponents, state senators . The Denver Gazette . en-US . May 10, 2023 . May 10, 2023 . Edwards . Alex.
  20. Web site: State Sen. Chris Hansen joins crowded 2023 Denver mayor's race. November 14, 2022.
  21. Web site: State Sen. Chris Hansen endorses Kelly Brough for Denver mayor . The Denverite . Harris . Kyle . April 28, 2023 . April 28, 2023 . en-US.
  22. News: Metzger . Hannah . August 8, 2022 . State Rep. Leslie Herod joins race for Denver mayor . The Gazette . Colorado Springs, Colorado . August 8, 2022.
  23. Web site: Mike Johnston's former rival Leslie Herod backs him for Denver Mayor . . 2023-04-24 . 2023-04-24 . en-US.
  24. Web site: "The city is broken": former boxer Aurelio Martinez is taking a swing at fixing Denver by running for mayor. November 28, 2022 .
  25. Web site: 2022-09-02 . City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega jumps into race for Denver mayor . 2022-09-03 . The Denver Post . en-US.
  26. Web site: Toomer . Lindsey . Anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts eyes Denver mayoral seat . 2022-04-26 . Denver Gazette . April 8, 2022 . en.
  27. Web site: Trinidad "Trini" Rodriguez has entered Denver's mayoral race. November 25, 2022 .
  28. Web site: Army veteran, small business owner Andy Rougeot launches bid for Denver mayor . July 13, 2022 .
  29. Web site: Mathurin . Desiree . Environmental activist Ean Thomas Tafoya is running for mayor . 2022-05-11 . Denverite . May 5, 2022 . en.
  30. News: Edwards . Alex . 2 more names added to Denver's long mayoral candidate list . 22 December 2022.
  31. Web site: Romero Troupe's James Walsh is running for mayor to make Denver "the most worker friendly city in the country". December 2022 .
  32. Web site: Investment banker Thomas Wolf is running for mayor of Denver . September 6, 2022 .
  33. Web site: Who's in, Who's Out, Who's on the Fence? Denver 2023 Mayoral Race . 2 August 2022.
  34. Web site: The long list of 2023 Denver mayor candidates. January 17, 2023.
  35. Web site: The race for Denver's next mayor takes shape.
  36. Web site: More than 70 candidates are running for Denver mayor or City Council. Here's what to watch in the 2023 election.. Sandra. Fish. December 7, 2022. The Colorado Sun.
  37. Web site: Toomer . Lindsey . Ken Simpson eyeing Denver mayor's seat once again . 2022-04-26 . Colorado Politics . April 19, 2022 . en.
  38. Web site: Anna Burrell is running for mayor with an eye on sustainability and an ear for 'normal people' . 2022-06-30 . Denverite . June 29, 2022 . en-US.
  39. Web site: Off to the race: Most mayoral candidates had a busy Wednesday night in Denver. November 17, 2022 . [Burrell] withdrew from the race, saying...'I'm stepping out of this race, and my campaign is officially endorsing Dr. Lisa Calderon.'.
  40. Web site: Tattered Cover's CEO Kwame Spearman is running for mayor . January 7, 2023 .
  41. Web site: 2023-03-16 . Denver mayoral candidate Kwame Spearman drops out of the race and endorses opponent Kelly Brough . 2023-03-16 . CBS News Colorado . en-US.
  42. Web site: The Language School founder David Stevens is running for mayor. November 29, 2022 .
  43. Web site: Candidate and Initiative Tracking. www.denvergov.org.
  44. News: Metzger . Hannah . November 29, 2022 . State Rep. Alex Valdez throws hat into Denver mayor race . The Gazette . Colorado Springs, Colorado . November 30, 2022.
  45. Web site: State Rep. Alex Valdez withdraws from Denver mayor race. Denver Gazette. January 17, 2023 .
  46. Web site: Kelly Brough wins endorsements from Wellington Webb, Denver's first Black mayor, and former state rep. Wilma Webb . Denverite . 2023-04-18 . 2023-04-18 . en-US . Harris . Kyle.
  47. Web site: Found: Someone Who Isn't Running for Denver Mayor or City Council. Michael. Roberts. Westword.
  48. Web site: Murray . Jon . 2023-03-21 . Racial missteps come under fire in diverse Denver mayor's race: 'We need to expect more' . 2023-03-21 . . en.
  49. Web site: Who's thinking about -- or who are people talking about -- running for mayor in 2023?. December 8, 2021 .
  50. Web site: Developers put cash behind CdeBaca challenger in City Council race. October 17, 2022.
  51. Web site: Denver's Fair Elections Fund has pushed some 2023 candidates into high fundraising gear early. October 19, 2022.
  52. Web site: Littwin: Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett says he's retiring from politics when the session ends . 16 April 2022 .
  53. News: Denver auditor will tackle homeless encampments, small business, City Council and Denver Police in 2023. The auditor is an elected position, and O'Brien is up for reelection in spring of 2023. There are currently two people, including him, who are running..
  54. Web site: Who will be Denver's next mayor? Here's a list of likely candidates . 11 July 2022 .
  55. Web site: Former state senator Penfield Tate III announces at-large council run. November 15, 2022 .
  56. Web site: Denver Campaign Finance Dashboard. Denver Maplight.

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