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Lisa Calderón Launches 2027 Denver Mayoral Bid to Unseat Mike Johnston

She cites Denver's budget gap with layoffs as motivation for a progressive challenge.

Overview

  • Calderón announced her run on Feb. 3 for the April 6, 2027 election for Denver mayor.
  • She faults Johnston's leadership on rising costs, city finances, and homelessness, saying encampments were pushed out of sight rather than solved.
  • Her platform includes reinstating 169 laid-off city workers, ending the Flock surveillance contract, boosting affordable housing, and expanding universal childcare.
  • She finished third in 2023 with 18.1% of the vote, narrowly missing the runoff, as outside groups spent $14.9 million opposing her versus $8.3 million against Johnston.
  • She plans to file for the race and will hold a Feb. 11 campaign kickoff at Su Teatro, highlighting ties to Women Uprising and the Colorado Working Families Party.