Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is officially running for a second term, according to
Johnston, who was first elected in 2023, has focused on major upgrades throughout the city, including plans for a new women’s soccer stadium, a new Broncos stadium and development of Park Hill Park. He’s also prioritized decreasing street homelessness and bringing life back to the city’s urban core.
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The filing, a long-anticipated step from Johnston, makes good on the mayor’s previously announced plan to run for a second term.
“I’m so proud of the work we’ve accomplished together over the last three years,” he said in a statement. “We’ve helped thousands of people move from the streets to housing, lowered crime and stood up to Donald Trump’s attacks on our values. We’ve brought life to downtown, invested in our neighborhoods and made it easier to grow a business. But the job’s not finished. The cost of living is too high, owning a home remains out of reach for too many, and childcare is too expensive — if you can find it at all.
“There are still people on the streets who need help and businesses that deserve support. We’ll solve these issues together and we’ll continue fighting to make Denver safer, more vibrant, and more affordable for all.”
Since he was elected, Johnston has seen mixed success on the ballot. His administration proposed a sales tax increase in 2024 that would have funded affordable housing. Voters narrowly rejected it. Then in 2025, Denverites approved the $950 million Vibrant Denver bond package.
In his recent State of the City address, he continued to shoot for the moon as he promised he would deliver a universal childcare program for the city within the next five years.
Johnston will take on nine other mayoral candidates who have entered the race so far, including Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, previous mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón, Aurelio Martinez, Robert Treta, Kenneth Simpson, Graylon Millen Cole, Samantha Nazish, Xander Thomas and Durango Dank.
The mayor’s critics have argued that his leadership style has overly prioritized major projects without following through on basic city services. His office also oversaw a major budget crisis, leading to 169 layoffs, last year.
Election day will be April 6. Each of Denver’s 13 council seats will also be on the ballot in the spring.
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