Election
Shontel Lewis wins Denver City Council race, final tally shows

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Shontel Lewis has won the City Council District 8 race after final unofficial results released Wednesday afternoon showed her with a 356 vote advantage against Brad Revare in Denver's runoff election
- Lewis received 51% support, compared to 49% for Revare.
By the numbers: 1,495 mismarked ballots remain outstanding, as well as overseas votes, election officials said, but they did not say how many are in the district.
CdeBaca loses re-election bid, one council race too close to call


Denver voters rejected two prominent progressive Democrats in city council races, and a third is now too close to call.
Driving the news: Candi CdeBaca, the most progressive elected official in Denver, lost her re-election bid to establishment-backed Darrell Watson in the redrawn District 9.
Mike Johnston wins Denver mayoral race, Kelly Brough concedes

Mike Johnston answers questions during a Denver mayoral debate last month. Photo: Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post via Getty Images
Mike Johnston is Denver's next mayor, cruising to victory in Tuesday's runoff election with support from a coalition of progressives and $5 million in outside spending from national big-money donors.
- He stood at 55% compared to 45% for challenger Kelly Brough, the longtime CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, according to preliminary election results Wednesday at 1:30am.
Johnston wins Denver mayor's race as progressives lose key seats

Denver mayoral candidates Kelly Brough, left, and Mike Johnston, right, take part in a debate in Denver. Photo: by Helen H. Richardson/Denver Post via Getty Images
Denver voters cast ballots in the June 6 runoff election to decide the city's next mayor and three outstanding council seats.
Why it matters: The next mayor is the first new face in 12 years, succeeding outgoing Mayor Michael Hancock, while the council contests will determine the extent of progressive political power in the city.
The future of Colorado's TABOR refunds remains in question
How much of a refund Colorado taxpayers receive under TABOR will significantly shift in 2024 — and possibly into perpetuity.
What's happening: A new law — tied to the Proposition HH ballot measure — dictates equal refund checks of roughly $672 per person next year under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which caps state tax revenue and requires surpluses to go back to payers.
Denver's early vote remains low ahead of June runoff election


Roughly 1 in 10 Denver voters have returned their ballots ahead of Tuesday's runoff election, signaling meager interest and the potential for a last-minute deluge that delays the results.
- Yes, but: Turnout is higher than at this point ahead of the April 4 election.
What's at stake in the Denver City Council runoff elections

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Three Denver council races in the June 6 runoff election pit mainstream Democrats against progressive candidates looking to shift power in the city for the next four years.
State of play: The 13-member Denver City Council will feature five new faces in July, and the final three seats remain undecided after no candidate won a majority in the April election.
Shontel Lewis vs. Brad Revare for Denver City Council: A 1-minute voter guide

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
A former RTD board member and a nonprofit leader are the two District 8 council finalists on the ballot for the June 6 runoff election.
Meet the candidates: Shontel Lewis, who once served on the Regional Transportation District board and works at the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, is campaigning with other left-leaning Democratic candidates to shift the council more progressive.

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