Only one seat set to change hands after Boulder City Council election
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Boulder's City Council lineup is nearly locked in, with three incumbents holding on and a fourth bowing out after a late surge.
Why it matters: The results preserve a narrow progressive majority on the council, with conservatives picking up just one additional seat.
The latest: Incumbent Nicole Speer staged a late comeback, jumping into third place in results posted Wednesday at 8pm, ahead of Rob Kaplan and Jenny Robins.
- Lauren Folkerts, another incumbent, narrowed the gap but still trails Kaplan and Robins.
- Folkerts conceded on social media, saying this "isn't the outcome we hoped for."
- That leaves Kaplan as the only newcomer, with incumbents Matt Benjamin and Mark Wallach maintaining the top two spots.
Between the lines: The mixed results underscore Boulder's split politics.
- Anti-growth groups, including PLAN Boulder, backed Robins and Kaplan in a bid to unseat progressives Speer and Folkerts.
- Speer and Folkerts had support from Boulder Progressives, a pro-urban growth group.
- The divergent results between Speer-Folkerts and Kaplan-Robins continues to support the idea that Boulder voters do not solely vote along "party" lines.
Catch up quick: Speer and Folkerts lagged early Tuesday — which is typical in Boulder, where progressive votes often come in later. In 2021, Folkerts rode that trend to a late win.
By the numbers: 122,486 ballots were cast, which is about a 50% turnout.
What's next: The county clerk will post another round of results next week, after counting overseas and cured ballots.
- Voters with signature issues have until next Wednesday to fix them.
- A recount is only automatic if the margin is within 0.5%.
What we're watching: Whether Kaplan's addition shifts the tone of the council — or if progressives' slim majority keeps Boulder's growth debates on the same track.