A Simple Guide to Denver’s 2019 Mayoral Election

Here's who is running for office and what they have to say about key issues facing Denver.

Denver City and County Building. Photo courtesy of Kevin Zolkiewicz / Flickr via Creative Commons.

We know it feels like we just finished campaign season, but you’ve probably noticed an uptick in campaign mailers and yard signs from candidates running for municipal office. On May 7, Denver went to the polls to elect new leaders. But after the ballots were counted, a handful of races—including for mayor—didn’t produce a clear winner, triggering a runoff that will take place on June 4.

After serving two terms as the city’s highest elected official, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock faced a solid field of five diverse opponents looking to unseat him. The race narrowed to two after the May 7 election, and Hancock is now squaring off against first-time challenger and urban planning expert Jamie Giellis in a heated runoff.

Ahead of the election, we sat down with each mayoral candidate to learn their thoughts on issues like growth, housing, homelessness, infrastructure, criminal justice, and more.

Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for length and clarity.