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Denver Voters Back $950 Million Bond, Union Slate on DPS Board as Aurora Council Flips to Progressives

Low turnout combined with heavy outside spending shaped decisive local power shifts.

Overview

  • In an off-year election with about 30% turnout, Denver voters approved the $950 million Vibrant Denver bond to fund roughly 60 capital projects over six years.
  • Voters retained the City Council’s flavored tobacco ban by an estimated 45-point margin, with the pro-ban campaign bolstered by a $5 million donation from Michael Bloomberg that a city spokesperson called the largest in a Denver municipal race.
  • Union-backed candidates swept all four Denver Public Schools board seats on the ballot, defeating the mayor’s endorsees and setting a new majority to confront enrollment and budget challenges.
  • Referred Question 2G passed, changing future elections for Denver’s two at-large City Council seats to separate contests rather than one race filling both seats.
  • Progressive candidates secured a new majority on the Aurora City Council, with Rob Andrews and Alli Jackson leading in the at-large race and conservative incumbent Danielle Jurinsky conceding.