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. 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 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.
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. 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.
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. Johnston won the runoff by a comfortable margin, with Brough conceding the race on the night of the election.
Candidates Advanced to the runoff These candidates advanced to the runoff election to be held on June 6. Kelly Brough, former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO and former chief of staff to then-mayor John Hickenlooper (Party affiliation: Democratic) Mike Johnston, former state senator, candidate for governor in 2018, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2020 (Party affiliation: Democratic)
Eliminated in the first round These candidates qualified to appear on the ballot, but were eliminated in the first round. Renate Behrens, retired caretaker (endorsed Brough in runoff) 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) (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Al Gardner, information technology professional and Denver Civil Service Commission member (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Chris Hansen, state senator (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Brough in runoff) Leslie Herod, state representative (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Paul Noel Fiorino, dance teacher and perennial candidate (Party affiliation: Independent) (ran a write-in campaign) Marcus Giavanni, perennial candidate (ran a write-in campaign) Aurelio Martinez, tech worker and former boxer Debbie Ortega, at-large city councilor (Party affiliation: Democratic) Terrance Roberts, community organizer (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Trinidad Rodriguez, financing executive and former Denver Housing Authority commissioner Andy Rougeot, maintenance executive (Party affiliation: Republican) Ean Tafoya, community organizer and former Colorado Environmental Justice Action Task Force co-chair (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Robert Treta, property builder (Party affiliation: Independent) (endorsed Brough in runoff) James Walsh, University of Colorado Denver professor (endorsed Johnston in runoff) Thomas Wolf, investment banker and candidate for mayor in 2011 (endorsed Brough in runoff)
Disqualified Abass Bamba, data consulting firm president (ran a write-in campaign) Matt Brady (ran a write-in campaign) Alex Cowans Sean Gallegos Sylvia Herring Jesse Parris, community organizer (ran a write-in campaign) Ken Simpson, tech consultant and perennial candidate
Withdrew Anna Burrell, sustainability consulting executive (endorsed Calderón) Kwame Spearman, CEO of Tattered Cover (remained on ballot; endorsed Brough) David Stevens, language tutoring school founder Alex Valdez, state representative (Party affiliation: Democratic) (endorsed Brough in runoff)
Declined Auon'tai Anderson, Denver Board of Education vice president (ran for re-election, endorsed Herod) Albus Brooks, construction executive and former Denver City Council president from the 9th district (endorsed Johnston) Candi CdeBaca, city councilor for district 9 (Party affiliation: Democratic) (ran for re-election, endorsed Calderón) Stephan Evans, activist and candidate for mayor in 2015 and 2019 Kevin Flynn, city councilor for district 2 (Party affiliation: Democratic) (ran for re-election) Alec Garnett, former Colorado House of Representatives speaker (Party affiliation: Democratic) Stacie Gilmore, city councilor and former council president (Party affiliation: Democratic) (ran for re-election) Cary Kennedy, senior advisor to governor Jared Polis, former Colorado State Treasurer, former deputy mayor of Denver, and candidate for governor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Democratic) Robin Kniech, at-large city councilor (Party affiliation: Democratic) James Mejia, president of Denver Film and candidate for mayor in 2011 Tim O'Brien, Denver City Auditor (ran for re-election) Paul Pazen, former Denver Police Department chief Penfield Tate III, former state senator and candidate for mayor in 2003 and 2019 (Party affiliation: Democratic) (ran for city council)
First round Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of March 14, 2023CandidateContributionsFair ElectionsFund payoutsExpendituresCash 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
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KellyBrough LisaCalderón ChrisHansen LeslieHerod MikeJohnston DebbieOrtega AndyRougeot EanTafoya Other UndecidedSurveyUSA/9NewsSurveyUSA/9NewsFebruary 21–28, 2023594 (LV)± 4.9%5%5%4%3%5%4%2%1%13%58%Chism Strategies (D)/Cygnal (R)Chism Strategies (D)/Cygnal (R)February 9–10, 2023405 (LV)± 4.9%8%3%4%6%5%4%3% –9%59%Searchlight Research (D)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.
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error KellyBrough MikeJohnston UndecidedCygnal (R)Cygnal (R)April 11–12, 2023410 (LV)± 4.8%34%39%27%
Results
Notes
References
External links
Official campaign websites Kelly Brough (D) for Mayor Mike Johnston (D) for Mayor
Others Lisa Calderón (D) for Mayor
Marcus Giavanni for Mayor
Aurelio Martinez for Mayor Debbie Ortega (D) for Mayor Terrance Roberts (D) for Mayor Trinidad Rodriguez for Mayor
Kwame Spearman (D) for Mayor Ean Tafoya (D) for Mayor Robert Treta (I) for Mayor James Walsh for Mayor Thomas Wolf for Mayor