Who's funding the at-large race, and the close Council votes one seat can tip
New reporting looks at where the leading fundraiser's money comes from. Our roll calls show why a single seat matters: since the vacancy, a 6-6 tie has already killed a contract.
With a week to go before the Nov. 3 special election for Denver's open at-large City Council seat, new reporting is looking at who is paying for the campaigns.
Monica Martinez, executive director of The Fax Partnership, has raised more from people in the legal and real estate fields than any other candidate in the race, BusinessDen reported on Oct. 27. Citing filings through Oct. 15, BusinessDen counted $12,000 from contributors who listed themselves as lawyers and $10,500 from people working in real estate.
Earlier, Axios Denver reported that the race had drawn more than $300,000 by mid-September, counting individual contributions and public matching money from Denver's Fair Elections Fund. Martinez led at that point, and five candidates had received matching money, Axios reported. Denverite's Oct. 14 roundup covers each campaign's money and endorsements.
The Fair Elections Fund is the city program that matches small contributions from Denver residents for candidates who accept lower contribution limits. The Clerk and Recorder's office posts the filings.
This follows our guide to the race. Ten candidates are on the ballot, and there is no runoff.
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What our records add: one seat, many close votes
The seat has been empty since Sarah Parady resigned in August, Denverite reported. That leaves 12 members, and a 6-6 tie means a measure fails. Official roll calls show how often the Council has split that closely:
- Aug. 10, 2026: a contract failed on a tie. An amendment to a city contract with Sunny Side Up Solutions for employee recruitment videos, 26-1116, failed 6-6 (roll call). Voting yes: Flor Alvidrez, Chris Hinds, Paul Kashmann, Amanda Sawyer, Darrell Watson and Diana Romero Campbell. Voting no: Kevin Flynn, Stacie Gilmore, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, Shontel Lewis, Amanda Sandoval and Jamie Torres.
- March 31, 2026: license plate cameras passed 7-6. The Axon license plate reader contract, 26-0246, passed by one vote. Parady voted no (roll call).
- Nov. 10, 2025: the 2026 budget vote tied. The motion to adopt the 2026 budget failed 6-6 with Parady absent (roll call). The budget took effect anyway, as the city charter requires, Colorado Politics reported.
- Nov. 3, 2025: a budget amendment passed 7-6. Lewis's amendment adding money for a sheriff crisis response team, 25-1759, passed with Parady voting yes (roll call).
Some decisions need more than a simple majority. Overriding a mayoral veto of a budget amendment takes nine votes, according to the City Council's budget page. That count does not shrink with a vacancy.
Fundraising and votes are reported here side by side for context. We do not suggest that any contribution decides how a member votes.
What's next
- Nov. 3: Ballots must be received by 7 p.m. The Denver Elections Division lists drop boxes and voting centers.
- Nov. 2 to Nov. 9: The 2027 budget's amendment, veto and final-vote steps. Whether the new member is seated in time depends on when results are certified. See our story on how last year's budget amendments went.
- Follow every member's votes on our legislation page.