Ten candidates, one empty seat: what to know about Denver's at-large Council race
The winner of the Nov. 3 special election fills the at-large seat Sarah Parady left in August. Here's how the 12-member Council has been voting without it.
Every Denver voter can vote in one City Council race this fall: the special election for at-large seat B, which has been empty since Sarah Parady resigned in August.
Ten candidates qualified for the ballot, Denverite reported. The city's special election page lists them: Alfredo Reyes, Whitney Traylor, Jeff Walker, Julissa Soto, Gabriel Konkle, Cynthia Diaz, Melissa Adriana Mejía, Jake Browne, Monica Martinez and Raymon Anthony Doane. Colorado Politics has a voter guide to the crowded field.
Why it matters: at-large members represent the whole city, and the seat is a vote on everything from the budget to rezonings. The winner serves the rest of the term, which ends in July 2027, and would have to run again in Denver's 2027 municipal election to keep the seat, Westword reported.
On the trail
Homelessness has been a central issue. At a recent forum, most candidates said Mayor Mike Johnston's All In Mile High program hadn't worked as promised, and every candidate said they opposed homeless sweeps, according to Westword. Parady endorsed Traylor on Oct. 16, Denverite reported. Denver Politics doesn't endorse candidates.
What our records add
The Council has been voting with 12 members. Denver's Council has 11 district seats and two at-large seats. With seat B empty, the most votes any measure can get right now is 12. On Oct. 19, the roll calls we checked were all 11-0, with Council Member Stacie Gilmore absent. Those include the Amendment 81 proclamation and the Jefferson Park rezoning at 2246 N. Federal Blvd. (roll call). The other at-large seat is held by Council President Pro Tem Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez.
Some of Parady's last big votes are on your ballot. Several measures voters will decide were referred by the Council while Parady was still seated:
- Xcel franchise (2K): Parady was one of two "no" votes when the Council sent the 20-year Xcel Energy franchise to voters 10-2 on July 27 (26-0970, roll call).
- Auditor wage enforcement (2H): Parady co-sponsored the charter amendment with Council Member Amanda Sawyer. It passed 11-0 on July 13 (26-0687).
- Two-year budgets (2I): Parady was absent when it passed 10-2 on July 20 (26-0864).
What the new member walks into. The 2027 budget's final vote is listed for Nov. 9 (agenda), six days after Election Day, while the seat is still being filled. The best-value contracting bill (26-1540), which split a committee 3-3 this week, and the speed camera ordinance (26-1435) are among the items still moving.
What's next
- Oct. 26: The last day to register online or by mail and still get a ballot in the mail, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. After that, you can register and vote in person at a Voter Service and Polling Center through Election Day.
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. The Denver Elections Division has drop box and polling center locations.
- The candidate with the most votes wins. There's no runoff, Axios Denver reported.
Find your district Council Member too, and see their recent votes.