Ten candidates vie for Denver's vacant city council seat Nov. 3

Ten candidates are on the ballot for Denver's City Council At-Large Seat B in a special election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

The winner will fill the vacancy left by Sarah Parady, who resigned in August over health concerns. The seat represents all Denver residents citywide, not a single district, and is one of two at-large positions on the 13-member council.

Why the seat is open

Parady, elected in 2023, announced her resignation at a council meeting in June. "I can't meaningfully do this job and be a parent and try to be a medical mystery in the good hours that I have every day," she said, according to The Denver Post. She initially said she would delay departure to avoid the expense of a separate special election.

The winner takes office immediately and serves the rest of Parady's term through July 2027, according to the Denver Elections Division. All 13 council seats will be up for election in April 2027.

How the election works

There is no runoff. The candidate who receives the most votes wins, even with a slim plurality, according to the Denver Elections Division. Denver City Council elections are officially nonpartisan.

Ballots must be returned to a drop box or voter center by 7 p.m. on election day, according to a Nov. 2 press release from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Counties began processing ballots on Oct. 19. After polls close, counties will upload results to the state's Election Night Reporting system.

Election-night results are unofficial. Results will be updated at least once every weekday by 4 p.m. MT through the cure deadline on Nov. 12, according to the secretary of state's office.

The candidates

All 10 qualified for the ballot by collecting at least 300 valid signatures from Denver residents. Here is a brief look at each, drawn from Denver Post and Denver Gazette candidate questionnaires and a Denverite voter guide profile.

Monica Martinez, 52, executive director of The Fax Partnership, an East Colfax nonprofit. She listed affordability, transportation investment along transit corridors and restoring trust in government as top priorities. She led in campaign fundraising as of mid-October with $291,000, including about $209,000 from Denver's Fair Elections Fund, the Denver Post reported.

Melissa Mejía, 41, a housing policy strategist and consultant from Chaffee Park. A member of the Denver Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), she listed affordability, workers' rights and reliable city services as priorities. She had about $99,500 in campaign funds as of mid-October, including $79,600 from the Fair Elections Fund, the Denver Post reported.

Alfredo Reyes, 36, a nonprofit executive and community-engaged researcher from Harvey Park. He listed family affordability, public safety prevention and local hiring on city contracts as priorities.

Whitney Traylor, 55, an attorney, mediator and MSU Denver professor from Skyland. He listed budget accountability, affordable housing near transit and support for small businesses as priorities.

Jeff Walker, 61, a compliance manager from Rosedale who has served on the Denver Planning Board and the RTD Board. He listed traffic safety, housing affordability and constituent communication as priorities.

Gabriel Konkle, 37, a software architect from Athmar Park and DSA member. He listed affordable housing, ending AI surveillance and expanding public pre-K as priorities.

Cynthia Diaz, 46, a small business owner and health care economist from Inspiration Point. She listed keeping small businesses open, affordable housing and budget accountability as priorities.

Jake Browne, 43, a marketing director from Regis. He listed cutting utility fees, landlord reform and ending AI surveillance as priorities.

Julissa Soto, a healthcare advocate and nonprofit founder from Green Valley Ranch. She told Denverite she would call for audits of city spending and push for greater government transparency.

Raymon Anthony Doane, 36, described by the Denver Gazette as supporting district-level shelters and pairing enforcement with voluntary treatment and housing services.

Key issues

Housing affordability and displacement dominated candidate responses. Every candidate expressed support, in varying forms, for the city's proposed "Unlocking Housing Choices" zoning reform, which would allow more duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in residential areas.

Surveillance technology also drew sharp debate. Denver holds a contract with Axon Enterprise for 50 license-plate-reading cameras at 20 intersections, set to expire in March. Several candidates said they would let the contract expire or oppose renewal without new privacy safeguards.

A Brownstein Hyatt analysis called the race one of the more consequential municipal contests on the November ballot, noting Parady was an active voice on housing, labor and public safety.

Results

Official results will be posted to the state's Election Night Reporting system after polls close at 7 p.m. MT on Nov. 3.