Johnston's $950M Vibrant Denver bond wins broad voter support
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Mayor Mike Johnston's $950 million Vibrant Denver bond package cruised to victory Tuesday night, marking a major win for the city's chief executive, preliminary results show.
Why it matters: The proposal tested voters' appetite to take on more city debt for local improvements — even as economic uncertainty clouds both Denver's books and the global outlook. Many also saw it as a referendum on Johnston himself, who poured political capital into the package.
- Despite the mayor facing growing criticism in recent weeks over what some describe as a lack of transparency and growing untrustworthiness, voters ultimately stood behind him.
What he's saying: "Tonight, Denver chose to invest in our city's future, and we are deeply grateful," Johnston said, declaring victory in a statement just before 9pm. "Together, we're building a stronger, more connected, and more vibrant city for generations to come."
By the numbers: Unofficial results as of midnight showed broad voter approval across all five measures (2A–2E), each winning at least 61% of the vote.
The big picture: Johnston's massive infrastructure proposal — split into five ballot questions funding roughly 60 projects — is poised to reshape Denver, from new parks and neighborhood revamps to a "state of the art" first responder training facility and a library-housing development.
- The city will borrow money and repay it with existing property tax revenues over time — with interest pushing total costs close to $2 billion, according to city figures.
- The Johnston administration projects the bond will create 7,000 jobs and generate $1.8 billion in economic impact.
Follow the money: The bond package received big-money backing, with nearly $2 million raised by supporters. There was no organized, well-funded opposition.
Between the lines: Johnston's last ballot measure — a 2024 tax hike to fund affordable housing — failed, raising the stakes this time around for a mayor just halfway through his first term.
- To avoid another loss, he turned to political pros — including former Denver Mayor Federico Peña — to help push the package through.
The bottom line: Tuesday's election offers a window into how far Denverites are willing to buy into Johnston's bold bets and long-term vision — and how much debt they'll shoulder to get there.