Friction flares between Denver's mayor and city council
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Photo illustration: Allie Carl/Axios; Photo: Esteban Hernandez
Denver's political tug-of-war between Mayor Mike Johnston and the City Council intensified this week.
Why it matters: The long-simmering power struggle is arguably the most visible it's been since Johnston took office in 2023 as questions about his credibility grow.
The big picture: As Axios Denver reported last month, unannounced deals and murky financial disclosures have fueled skepticism about the Johnston administration's transparency. That trust deficit now appears to be driving resistance from the council.
Driving the news: On Monday, the council took the unusual step of rejecting Johnston's 2026 budget — a symbolic move that didn't block its passage but sent a strong message.
- Even after Johnston agreed to all 10 of the council's amendments, members voted it down, citing what Councilmember Amanda Sawyer called a "lack of transparency" and "accountability."
- "I've never seen anything like it before," said Sawyer, now in her sixth year on the dais.
The latest: Two days later, a council committee hit pause on Johnston's $50 million plan for infrastructure tied to a new women's soccer stadium, again flagging missing details and lack of trust.
- Council President Amanda Sandoval and Councilmember Chris Hinds pointed to the mayor's closed-door dealings on the Park Hill Golf Course and the Flock surveillance system as reasons for the delay.
- "We don't want to continue to get surprised," Hinds said.
Between the lines: Some council members, including Kevin Flynn, say collaboration cuts both ways. "If we want collaboration," he said, "we should collaborate."
The other side: Johnston's office — which calls itself the most "transparent administration in city history" — argues it has gone above and beyond to work with the council, answering 600 budget questions and holding dozens of briefings.
- To Johnston's allies, the dust-ups look less like transparency fights and more like a council flexing against a strong-mayor system that limits its reach.
What they're saying: "Denverites elected us to solve problems, not squabble," Johnston's spokesperson Jon Ewing told Axios Denver in a statement.
- In last week's election, he added, "Denverites reaffirmed loudly they are in favor of the direction the city is going under Mayor Johnston."