2023 Denver mayoral election

The 2023 Denver mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023 to elect the mayor of Denver, Colorado, with a runoff scheduled for June 6.[2] 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 is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a fourth term in office. A historic field of seventeen candidates filed to run in the race to succeed Hancock.[3]

2023 Denver mayoral election
April 4, 2023 (first round)
June 6, 2023 (runoff)
Turnout33.49% (first round)[1]
 
Candidate Mike Johnston Kelly Brough Lisa Calderón
First round 42,273
24.5%		 34,627
20.0%		 31,493
18.2%
Runoff TBD TBD Eliminated
 
Candidate Andy Rougeot Leslie Herod
First round 19,927
11.5%		 18,506
10.7%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated
Incumbent Mayor

Michael Hancock
Democratic


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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 include Emerge Colorado executive director Lisa Calderón, maintenance executive Andy Rougeot, and state representative Leslie Herod.[4][5]

Candidates

Advanced to the runoff

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

Eliminated in the first round

The following candidates qualified to appear on the ballot, but were eliminated in the first round.[3]

  • Renate Behrens, retired caretaker[9] (endorsed Brough in runoff)[10]
  • Lisa Calderón, executive director of Emerge Colorado, former chief of staff to city councilor Candi CdeBaca, and candidate for mayor in 2019 (Party affiliation: Democratic)[11] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[12]
  • Al Gardner, information technology professional and member of the Denver Civil Service Commission (Party affiliation: Democratic)[13] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[14]
  • Chris Hansen, state senator (Party affiliation: Democratic)[15] (endorsed Brough in runoff)[16]
  • Leslie Herod, state representative (Party affiliation: Democratic)[17] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[18]
  • Aurelio Martinez, tech worker and former boxer[19]
  • Debbie Ortega, at-large city councilor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[20]
  • Terrance Roberts, community organizer (Party affiliation: Democratic)[21] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[14]
  • Trinidad Rodriguez, financing executive and former Denver Housing Authority commissioner[22]
  • Andy Rougeot, maintenance executive (Party affiliation: Republican)[23]
  • Ean Tafoya, community organizer and former co-chair of the Colorado Environmental Justice Action Task Force (Party affiliation: Democratic)[24] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[14]
  • Robert Treta, property builder (Party affiliation: Independent)[25] (endorsed Brough in runoff)[10]
  • James Walsh, University of Colorado Denver professor[26] (endorsed Johnston in runoff)[14]
  • Thomas Wolf, investment banker and candidate for mayor in 2011[27] (endorsed Brough in runoff)[28]

Disqualified
  • Abass Bamba, data consulting firm president (ran a write-in campaign)[3]
  • Matt Brady (ran a write-in campaign)[3]
  • Alex Cowans[29][3]
  • Paul Fiorino, dance teacher and perennial candidate (Party affiliation: Independent) (ran a write-in campaign)[3]
  • Sean Gallegos[30][3]
  • Marcus Giavanni, perennial candidate (ran a write-in campaign)[31][3]
  • Sylvia Herring[32][3]
  • Jesse Parris, community organizer (ran a write-in campaign)[3]
  • Ken Simpson, tech consultant and perennial candidate[33][3]

Withdrew

Declined

First round

Fundraising
Campaign finance reports as of March 14, 2023[53]
Candidate Contributions Fair Elections
Fund payouts		 Expenditures Cash on hand
Renate Behrens $429 $0 $408 $21
Kelly Brough $644,299 $750,000 $790,625[lower-alpha 1] $382,544
Lisa Calderón $69,013 $195,351 $127,457[lower-alpha 2] $58,161
Al Gardner $13,770 $0 $8,682 $5,088
Chris Hansen $200,675 $375,187 $440,197[lower-alpha 3] $18,532
Leslie Herod $332,646 $587,057 $608,704[lower-alpha 4] $162,726
Mike Johnston $547,004 $613,539 $580,999[lower-alpha 5] $220,684
Aurelio Martinez $12,124 $37,259 $15,645 $33,744
Debbie Ortega $144,186 $249,705 $254,685[lower-alpha 6] $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[lower-alpha 7] $0 $752,359 $46,951
Kwame Spearman $100,266 $188,406 $206,524 $17,182
Ean Tafoya $47,556 $153,713 $144,029[lower-alpha 8] $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

Endorsements
Kelly Brough (D)
Statewide officials
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Newspapers
  • The Denver Gazette[57]
Lisa Calderón (D)
State officials
State legislators
Local officials
Organizations
Chris Hansen (D)
Statewide officials
State legislators
Organizations
Leslie Herod (D)
Statewide officials
State legislators
Local officials
Individuals
Organizations
Mike Johnston (D)
Local officials
Individuals
Newspapers
Debbie Ortega (D)
State legislators
Newspapers
Organizations
Andy Rougeot (R)
Organizations
Declined to endorse
U.S. Representatives
State legislators

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 9]		 Margin
of error		 Kelly
Brough		 Lisa
Calderón		 Chris
Hansen		 Leslie
Herod		 Mike
Johnston		 Debbie
Ortega		 Andy
Rougeot		 Ean
Tafoya		 Other Undecided
SurveyUSA/9News February 21–28, 2023 594 (LV) ± 4.9% 5% 5% 4% 3% 5% 4% 2% 1% 13%[lower-alpha 10] 58%
Chism Strategies (D)/Cygnal (R)[upper-alpha 1] February 9–10, 2023 405 (LV) ± 4.9% 8% 3% 4% 6% 5% 4% 3% – 9% 59%
Searchlight Research (D)[upper-alpha 2] January 11–14, 2023 500 (LV) ± 4% 4% 8% 6% 8% 6% 16% – 1% 3%[lower-alpha 11] 47%

Results
2023 Denver mayoral election[1]
Candidate Votes  %
Mike Johnston 42,273 24.45
Kelly Brough 34,627 20.03
Lisa Calderón 31,493 18.21
Andy Rougeot 19,927 11.52
Leslie Herod 18,506 10.70
Chris Hansen 8,309 4.81
Debbie Ortega 7,739 4.48
Ean Tafoya 2,700 1.56
Thomas Wolf 1,747 1.01
Trinidad Rodriguez 1,240 0.72
Aurelio Martinez 755 0.44
Al Gardner 725 0.42
James Walsh 722 0.42
Renate Behrens 184 0.11
Robert Treta 169 0.10
Write-in 45 0.03
Total votes 172,918 100.00

Runoff

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the first round.

Kelly Brough (D)
Federal officials
Statewide officials
State senators
State representatives
Local officials
Party officials
Individuals
  • Kwame Spearman, CEO of Tattered Cover and former 2023 mayoral candidate[37]
  • Renate Behrens, retired caretaker and former 2023 mayoral candidate[10]
  • Robert Treta, property builder and former 2023 mayoral candidate[10]
  • Thomas Wolf, investment banker and former 2023 mayoral candidate[28]
Organizations
Labor unions
Newspapers
  • Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle[73]
  • La Voz Bilingüe Colorado[78]
  • The Denver Gazette[57]

Mike Johnston (D)
Federal officials
Statewide officials
  • Ean Tafoya, member of the Colorado Environmental Justice Action Task Force (2021–present) and former 2023 mayoral candidate[14]
State senators
State representatives
Local officials
  • Albus Brooks, former president of the Denver City Council (2015–2019) from the 9th district (2011–2019)[45]
  • Al Gardner, member of the Denver Civil Service Commission (2022–present) and former 2023 mayoral candidate[14]
Individuals
Labor unions
Newspapers

Declined to endorse
Local officials

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 13]		 Margin
of error		 Kelly
Brough		 Mike
Johnston		 Undecided
Cygnal (R)[upper-alpha 1] April 11–12, 2023 410 (LV) ± 4.8% 34% 39% 27%

Results
2023 Denver mayoral election
Candidate Votes  %
Kelly Brough
Mike Johnston
Total votes

Notes
  1. Brough also benefitted from $904,950 in independent expenditures by the group A Better Denver.
  2. Calderón also had $731 spent against her by the group Save Denver Now.
  3. Hansen also benefitted from $26,000 in independent expenditures by the group A Better Denver.
  4. Herod also benefitted from $167,600 in independent expenditures by the group Ready Denver. She also had $4,651 spent against her by the group Save Denver Now.
  5. Johnston also benefitted from $1,411,803 in independent expenditures by the group Advancing Denver.
  6. Ortega also benefitted from $120,397 in independent expenditures by Denver Firefighters (International Association of Fire Fighters Local 858) and $10,000 by the group Protecting Denver's Future.
  7. $750,000 of this total was self-funded by Rougeot.[54]
  8. Tafoya also had $678 spent against him by the group Save Denver Now.
  9. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  10. Al Gardner and Thomas Wolf with 3%; Trinidad Rodriguez and Terrance Roberts with 2%; Renate Behrens, Kwame Spearman, and Aurelio Martinez with 1%; James Walsh and Robert Treta with 0%
  11. Alex Valdez with 2%; every other candidate combined for 1%
  12. AFSCME Council 76 was absorbed by AFSCME Council 18 between endorsements.[83]
  13. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  1. This poll was conducted for A Denver for Us All, a business coalition.
  2. This poll was conducted for Debbie Ortega

References
  1. "Election Summary Report" (PDF). City and County of Denver. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  2. Edwards, Alex (February 28, 2023). "Who will end up in a runoff for Denver mayor? It's anyone's guess, experts weigh in". Denver Gazette. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. "Here are the mayoral candidates who qualified for the ballot". January 27, 2023.
  4. "It's official: Denver mayoral candidates Mike Johnston, Kelly Brough will advance to June runoff election".
  5. "Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough are heading to the Denver mayoral election runoff, according to latest results".
  6. "Kelly Brough, longtime CEO of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, is running for mayor". Denverite. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  7. "Denver Mayoral Candidates 2023: Kelly Brough".
  8. "Mike Johnston running for Denver mayor in 2023 as field balloons". November 16, 2022.
  9. "Mayoral candidate Renate Behrens doesn't have a website, but she does have a lot of ideas for the city".
  10. Woodruff, Chase (May 15, 2023). "Brough, Johnston rack up endorsements in Denver mayoral runoff". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  11. "Lisa Calderón announces run for Denver mayor in 2023". October 13, 2022.
  12. Edwards, Alex (May 16, 2023). "Lisa Calderón endorses Mike Johnston for Denver Mayor". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  13. Cardi, Julia. "Al Gardner jumps into Denver mayor's race; 24 candidates now vying for the seat". Denver Gazette.
  14. Edwards, Alex (May 10, 2023). "Johnston secures endorsement from former opponents, state senators". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  15. "State Sen. Chris Hansen joins crowded 2023 Denver mayor's race".
  16. Harris, Kyle (April 28, 2023). "State Sen. Chris Hansen endorses Kelly Brough for Denver mayor". The Denverite. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  17. Metzger, Hannah (August 8, 2022). "State Rep. Leslie Herod joins race for Denver mayor". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  18. "Mike Johnston's former rival Leslie Herod backs him for Denver Mayor". CBS News. April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  19. ""The city is broken": former boxer Aurelio Martinez is taking a swing at fixing Denver by running for mayor".
  20. "City Councilwoman Debbie Ortega jumps into race for Denver mayor". The Denver Post. September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  21. Toomer, Lindsey. "Anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts eyes Denver mayoral seat". Denver Gazette. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  22. "Trinidad "Trini" Rodriguez has entered Denver's mayoral race".
  23. "Army veteran, small business owner Andy Rougeot launches bid for Denver mayor".
  24. Mathurin, Desiree. "Environmental activist Ean Thomas Tafoya is running for mayor". Denverite. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  25. Edwards, Alex (December 22, 2022). "2 more names added to Denver's long mayoral candidate list".
  26. "Romero Troupe's James Walsh is running for mayor to make Denver "the most worker friendly city in the country"".
  27. "Investment banker Thomas Wolf is running for mayor of Denver".
  28. Harris, Kyle (April 18, 2023). "Kelly Brough wins endorsements from Wellington Webb, Denver's first Black mayor, and former state rep. Wilma Webb". Denverite. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  29. "Who's in, Who's Out, Who's on the Fence? Denver 2023 Mayoral Race". August 2, 2022.
  30. "The long list of 2023 Denver mayor candidates". January 17, 2023.
  31. "The race for Denver's next mayor takes shape".
  32. Fish, Sandra (December 7, 2022). "More than 70 candidates are running for Denver mayor or City Council. Here's what to watch in the 2023 election". The Colorado Sun.
  33. Toomer, Lindsey. "Ken Simpson eyeing Denver mayor's seat once again". Colorado Politics. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  34. "Anna Burrell is running for mayor with an eye on sustainability and an ear for 'normal people'". Denverite. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  35. "Off to the race: Most mayoral candidates had a busy Wednesday night in Denver". [Burrell] withdrew from the race, saying...'I'm stepping out of this race, and my campaign is officially endorsing Dr. Lisa Calderon.'
  36. "Tattered Cover's CEO Kwame Spearman is running for mayor".
  37. "Denver mayoral candidate Kwame Spearman drops out of the race and endorses opponent Kelly Brough". CBS News Colorado. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  38. "The Language School founder David Stevens is running for mayor".
  39. "Candidate and Initiative Tracking". www.denvergov.org.
  40. Metzger, Hannah (November 29, 2022). "State Rep. Alex Valdez throws hat into Denver mayor race". The Gazette. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  41. "State Rep. Alex Valdez withdraws from Denver mayor race". Denver Gazette.
  42. Roberts, Michael. "Found: Someone Who Isn't Running for Denver Mayor or City Council". Westword.
  43. Murray, Jon (March 21, 2023). "Racial missteps come under fire in diverse Denver mayor's race: 'We need to expect more'". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  44. "Who's thinking about -- or who are people talking about -- running for mayor in 2023?".
  45. Worthington, Danika; Fish, Sandra; Paul, Jesse; Wenzler, Elliott (March 13, 2023). "Ballots are being mailed out to Denver voters. Here's what to know about the mayor's race". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  46. "Developers put cash behind CdeBaca challenger in City Council race".
  47. "Mayoral election in Denver, Colorado (2023)". Ballotpedia.
  48. "Denver's Fair Elections Fund has pushed some 2023 candidates into high fundraising gear early".
  49. "Littwin: Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett says he's retiring from politics when the session ends". April 16, 2022.
  50. "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.
  51. "Who will be Denver's next mayor? Here's a list of likely candidates". July 11, 2022.
  52. "Former state senator Penfield Tate III announces at-large council run".
  53. "Denver Campaign Finance Dashboard". Denver Maplight.
  54. "Denver mayoral candidates' finances hint of tight race ahead of April 4 election".
  55. "Big endorsement could shake up Denver's mayoral race". www.cbsnews.com.
  56. Del Puerto, Luige (February 24, 2023). "Metro realtors endorse Kelly Brough, council candidates". The Colorado Statesman, now Colorado Politics. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  57. board, The Gazette editorial. "ENDORSEMENT: Kelly Brough for Denver mayor". Denver Gazette.
  58. "Lisa Calderón secures progressive backing in Denver mayoral race".
  59. Edwards, Alex (February 27, 2023). "Former Colorado Governor endorses Sen. Chris Hansen for Denver mayor". Denver Gazette. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  60. "314 Action Endorses Senator Chris Hansen for Denver Mayor". 314 Action. December 28, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  61. Edwards, Alex. "Teamsters Local 17 and 455 endorse Chris Hansen for Denver mayor". Denver Gazette.
  62. Goodland, Marianne (March 21, 2023). "Inside the office of state Rep. Leslie Herod: High intensity or workplace harassment?". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  63. "Wellington Webb endorses Leslie Herod for Denver mayor". KUSA.com. January 25, 2023.
  64. "Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb endorses mayoral candidate Kelly Brough". CBS News Colorado. April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  65. Hernandez, Esteban L. (September 8, 2022). "State Rep. Leslie Herod is running for Denver mayor". Axios.
  66. "Our Candidates". LGBTQ Victory Fund. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  67. Fish, Sandra (April 3, 2023). "Denver mayoral candidates raised $6.6 million, while outside groups spent $3.6 million, final campaign finance reports show". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  68. "Endorsement: Mike Johnston for Denver mayor". The Denver Post. March 12, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  69. "El Semanario Endorses Debbie Ortega for Denver Mayor – El Semanario".
  70. McCormick-Cavanagh, Conor (March 14, 2023). "The Contenders: Debbie Ortega Wants Her Long Political Career to End in Mayor's Office". Westword. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  71. Alvarez, Alayna (May 13, 2023). "Who is endorsing Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston for Denver mayor". Axios Denver. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  72. Hernandez, Esteban L. (April 19, 2023). "What Denver's Black leaders expect from the next mayor". Axios. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  73. Bonniwell, Charles (April 21, 2023). "One And A Half Cheers For Kelly Brough As Denver Mayor". Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  74. Edwards, Alex (April 24, 2023). "Kelly Brough secures pair of endorsements from former Democratic party leaders". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  75. Markus, Ben (May 10, 2023). "With ballots on the way next week, endorsements are pouring into the Denver mayor's race". The Denverite. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  76. "Denver Police union endorses Kelly Brough".
  77. Edwards, Alex (May 8, 2023). "Denver firefighters union endorses Kelly Brough". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  78. Gurulé, Ernest (April 26, 2023). "LaVozColorado endorses Kelly Brough for Denver Mayor". La Voz Bilingüe Colorado. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  79. Harris, Kyle (April 12, 2023). "Mike Johnston gets former Denver Mayor Federico Peña's coveted endorsement". Denverite. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  80. Edwards, Alex (April 6, 2023). "Mike Johnston secures endorsement from Terrance Carroll, Peter Groff". The Denver Gazette. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  81. Luning, Ernest (April 20, 2023). "Mike Johnston wins endorsement from Dottie Lamm for Denver mayor". The Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  82. "AFSCME Council 18 Endorsements - Denver". AFSCME Council 18: Colorado. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  83. "AFSCME Council 18". Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  84. "2023 Denver Municipal Endorsements". Denver AFL-CIO. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  85. Markus, Ben (May 12, 2023). "Kelly Brough garners endorsement from Black ministry advocacy group". The Denverite. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  86. UFCW Local 7 (@UFCW_7) (April 13, 2023). "UFCW Local 7 proudly endorses Mike Johnston for Denver Mayor in the June 6th Runoff Election! @MikeJohnstonCO". Twitter. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  87. Wadhams, Dick. "The 'missing man' in Denver's mayoral race". Colorado Politics. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
Official campaign websites
Others
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