2025 Boulder election guide: What to know
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It's a packed race in Boulder: Eleven candidates — including all four incumbents — are competing for four City Council seats.
Why it matters: The winners will help determine the city's direction on issues from growth to climate policy.
Zoom in: Boulder's final odd-year election is short on local ballot items, with only one city item and two countywide questions.
- Both county items and the city of Boulder ballot questions either extend taxes or create new ones and have largely been endorsed by local officials.
- There are no citizen-led ballot measures in this election.
Between the lines: The past two years have been unusually turbulent for Boulder City Council, defined by internal rifts and heated public showdowns.
- Many of the council candidates wrote on their websites that affordable housing, climate, homelessness and public safety are priorities.
- Two candidates also highlighted divesting from companies involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict, an issue that dominated public comment despite being tabled by council.
- One area the candidates have differed on is minimum wage and tipping.
Matt Benjamin — age 43, incumbent, photographer and education consultant
- Priorities: Housing, wildfire resiliency and economic vitality
Lauren Folkerts, age 38, incumbent, architect
- Priorities: Affordable housing, climate action, inclusivity and equity
Rachel Rose Isaacson, age 28, barista
- Priorities: Climate resiliency, housing and community empowerment
Rob Kaplan, age 60, business owner, firefighter
- Priorities: Homelessness, wildfire resiliency, small businesses' vitality and public safety
Maxwell Lord, age 32, business owner
- Priorities: Environmental protections, fire resilience, affordable housing, homelessness, mental health and economic stability
Monserrat Palacios, age 30, auction house manager
- Priorities: Housing, transportation, homelessness, public safety, arts and culture
Jenny Robins, age 48, telecommunications, small business owner
- Priorities: Infrastructure, public safety and climate goals
Robert Smoke, age 69, journalist, property manager
- Priorities: While Smoke does not have a website, he told the Boulder Reporting Lab and Daily Camera that divestment from Israel is his primary concern.
Nicole Speer, age 48, incumbent, scientist
- Priorities: Affordable housing, homelessness, climate, transportation and public spaces
Aaron Stone, age 49, quantum computing
- Priority: Divesting from Israel
Mark Wallach, age 72, incumbent, retired
- Priorities: Affordable housing, infrastructure, climate, open space, homelessness and public safety
🗳️ What to know: Boulder County sent out ballots on Oct. 10 and voters have until 7pm Nov. 4 to return them — postmarks don't count.
- Residents who registered to vote after Oct. 10 and who want to be mailed a ballot must request one by Oct. 27.
- If you're mailing in your ballot, it's recommended you get it in the mail Oct. 27 to ensure it arrives by Election Day, Nov. 4.
- Ballots can also be put in drop boxes any time up to 7pm Nov. 4. There are multiple 24/7 drop boxes across the county.
📍 Where to go: Registration and in-person voting will be available until 7pm Nov. 4 at three locations in Boulder County:
- Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Boulder office — 1750 33rd St.
- University Memorial Center at University of Colorado — 1669 Euclid Ave.
- Lafayette's Southeast County Community Hub — 1755 S. Public Road.
- Longmont's St. Vrain Community Hub — 515 Coffman St.