Boulder's City Council cheat sheet
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Boulder voters have big decisions to make Tuesday: Who should lead the city — and what direction should it take?
Why it matters: Housing, public safety, development and city spending are all on the table, with 19 candidates vying for six positions.
- And with five of nine City Council seats up for grabs, Boulder's political landscape could look very different after Election Day.
🗳️ Meet your mayoral candidates
Six candidates want Boulder's top elected job, including incumbent Mayor Aaron Brockett.
- Taishya Adams
- Aaron Brockett (incumbent)
- Jameson "Jamo" Goldstein
- Lisa Ann Jacobs
- Aquiles La Grave
- "Grateful" Fred Smith
How it works: Boulder uses ranked-choice voting to elect its mayor. That means you can rank up to six candidates, from your favorite to last choice.
- 🥇 If a candidate gets more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win.
- 🔄 If not, the last-place candidate is eliminated, and their supporters' votes go to the next-ranked candidates still in the race.
- 🏆 The process repeats until someone wins a majority of the votes still in play.
🏙️ Meet your City Council candidates
Thirteen candidates are competing for five seats on the nine-member City Council:
- Benita Duran
- Sam Fuqua
- Lee Gilbert
- Jill Grano
- Rachel Rose Isaacson
- Ryan Jamieson
- Tina Marquis (incumbent)
- Dave Martus
- Scott Rendleman
- Jamillah Richmond
- Ryan Schuchard (incumbent)
- Lynn Segal (no website listed)
- Tara Winer (incumbent)
How it works: City Council elections don't use ranked-choice voting.
- Instead, you can pick up to five candidates.
- The five with the most votes win.
Catch up quick: At least two new faces are guaranteed seats.
- Councilmember Mark Wallach resigned in July and Adams is running for mayor instead of reelection to council.
Between the lines: Boulder's elections are nonpartisan, meaning you won't see a D or R next to candidates' names.
Yes, but: Endorsements from influential local groups offer clues about where candidates stand.
Here's a quick breakdown:
- 🏘️ Boulder Progressives and Better Boulder generally favor housing affordability and transportation options. Both endorsed Brockett for mayor and several of the same council candidates.
- 🌳 PLAN-Boulder County traditionally focuses on open space, environmental protection and development oversight. It endorsed La Grave for mayor and five council candidates.
- 💰 Open Boulder prioritizes government accountability and fiscal oversight. It backed five council candidates but no mayoral candidate.
Be smart: Endorsements aren't everything. Boulder voters don't always follow the political playbook.
🔮 The bottom line: Your ballot could help reshape City Hall — and Boulder's future — for years to come.