The Denver mayoral race dragged on for days as the media establishment held out hope their favored candidate, socialist Democrat Lisa Calderón, would make the runoff election.
They even had Calderón believing up until the final hours she stood a chance.
“Lisa Calderón closing the gap on second-place Kelly Brough.
Whether the remaining votes will propel Calderón into the second spot is yet to be determined, but if they do, she will upset one of the two most financially backed candidates in the race in Brough.” 👀 https://t.co/QHJyriUxYg— Lisa for Denver (@LisaforDenver) April 6, 2023
So hopeful.
NEW: Lisa Calderón might still have a shot in the Denver mayor’s race.
There are more than 21,000 votes left to be counted in Denver, and the window between Calderón and Kelly Brough is narrowing.https://t.co/gfKnUcnQKu
— Denverite (@Denverite) April 5, 2023
Spinning Calderón’s last minute votes as getting her closer to …uh, losing.
*5P UPDATE*
Mike Johnston’s lead has grown.
Kelly Brough still in 2nd. 3.2% over 3rd.
Lisa Calderon 3rd & climbing. 4,894 votes back.Calderon got 23% of the 30,000 votes just uploaded. Brough got 16%.
About 23,000 more ballots to go. Math still in Brough’s favor. #copolitics pic.twitter.com/Ehq0iUXyzF
— Marshall Zelinger (@Marshall9News) April 5, 2023
But fingers crossed!
While it’s not impossible for @LisaforDenver to overtake @KellyBroughDen and secure a spot in the runoff election for the next mayor of Denver, the math looks increasingly difficult for the current third-placer. (via @ldelpuerto)https://t.co/QH9LezGVHC
— Colorado Politics (@colo_politics) April 6, 2023
No matter how they sliced it, Johnston still beat Calderón by 10,000 votes as she remained deadlocked in third place with all but a couple thousand votes left to count.
Calderón finally exited the race after offering this concession statement, in which she claimed great honor in not winning, while throwing a few last barbs at the two frontrunners as puppets of people who had more money than her coalition of unhoused activists, socialist dreamers, and radicals.
My statement about the final results of the 2023 election. Thank you all so much for your support 💜 pic.twitter.com/yY85Nbt2Eq
— Lisa for Denver (@LisaforDenver) April 6, 2023
Most ungracious.
Even after the runoff was set Thursday between Mike Johnston and Kelly Brough, whom the media dourly describes as mere moderates, Jon Murray with the Denver Post was still doodling with color-coded graphics to suggest otherwise.
Fun with maps, Denver mayor’s race edition. Top five candidates each led precincts.
Colors show pluralities for Johnston (turquoise), Brough (orange), Calderón (purple), Herod (brown) and Rougeot (beige). (Look at the conservative pockets in far-SW and SE!) White means a tie. pic.twitter.com/QRK8jo9tYT— Jon Murray (@JonMurray) April 6, 2023
And just look at all those conservatives living in the southwest pocket in District 2, he warns.
Anyway, Calderón still lost, no matter how you color code or slice it.
And Republican Andy Rougeot still got more votes than Leslie Herod.
Breaking: In final release of unofficial results — Denver FINISHED main count today — here is mayor’s race:
Mike Johnston 24.5%
Kelly Brough 20.0%
Lisa Calderón 18.2%
Andy Rougeot 11.6%
Leslie Herod 10.7%Runoff will be between Johnston/Brough on June 6.
— Jon Murray (@JonMurray) April 6, 2023