Mayor Johnston's 2026 agenda is all about "delivering"
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is entering 2026 with one word on his mind: deliver.
Why it matters: After a year of big bets and political wins, Johnston is moving from planning to proof in the final full year before he launches a 2027 reelection bid built on results, not promises.
State of play: 2025 gave his administration real momentum. Voters approved a sweeping bond package. Downtown redevelopment accelerated. Deals advanced for a Broncos stadium and a women's soccer stadium. And violent crime fell to historic lows.
- Now comes the harder part: turning progress into permanence.
What he's saying: "We view this year very much as a year focused on delivering," Johnston told Axios Denver in an interview this week.
- "We have built a lot of great plans and a lot of good strategies," he said. "Now it's time to execute on those really effectively."
The big picture: Johnston says his 2026 agenda still centers on the same pillars he first ran on: making Denver more vibrant, affordable and safe.
Zoom in: Those priorities translate into:
- Shepherding large-scale development projects, including the 59 funded by the Vibrant Denver bond, the Broncos and women's soccer stadium plans, and the redevelopment of the former Park Hill Golf Course.
- Expanding housing supply by bringing roughly 3,000 new units online annually — a pace the city says is already helping ease rent pressures.
- Broadly reducing crime, not just violent offenses.
The intrigue: After two years focused on violent crime, Johnston says 2026 will bring greater attention to "quality-of-life" offenses like retail theft and open drug use.
- The pivot is likely to resonate with frustrated residents and business owners — and inflame critics who argue those problems require treatment and social services, not more enforcement.
The other side: Even with momentum on his side, Johnston acknowledges a bumpy road ahead.
- He faces local budget strains and national economic uncertainty, an unpredictable Trump administration already sparring with Denver in court, and ongoing tension with City Council over trust and transparency that continues to complicate his agenda.
The bottom line: By year's end, Johnston says voters should judge his leadership by improvements in four metrics: street homelessness, crime, affordability and economic recovery.
- "Those are the four things that have been consistent all the way through, and they will be for this year," he pledged.