Denver politics is already warming up for 2027, because apparently we learned nothing from the last few rounds of campaign slogans and press releases. The Denver Post reports progressive activist Lisa Calderón is running for Denver mayor again, formally filing Tuesday and taking aim at Mayor Mike Johnston.
This is her third swing at the job after placing third in both 2019 and 2023, and she is jumping in alongside two other declared candidates.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Lisa Calderón announced a 2027 run for Denver mayor, challenging incumbent Mike Johnston.
- She previously ran in 2019 and 2023 and placed third both times, narrowly missing the runoff in 2023.
- Calderón cited Johnston’s campaign promises and pointed to last August’s layoffs of 169 city employees tied to an estimated $200 million budget gap.
- Johnston’s spokesman defended his record, citing work on homelessness and violence reduction and positioning Johnston against federal pressure.
- Calderón’s campaign priorities include cost-of-living, community-based safety, a housing-first homelessness strategy, bike and pedestrian safety, workers’ issues, and small businesses, plus promises like reinstating laid-off workers and expanding universal child care.
My Bottom Line
Denver is about to get a familiar choice: progressive vs progressive, with both sides insisting their version of the same ideology will finally work this time. In the Denver/Boulder Bubble, the answer is always another program, another promise, and another news release.
Calderón says things got harder despite promises. Johnston’s camp says they are delivering wins while defending “values.” That’s a nice tidy word until the bill shows up. Who pays? Who profits? Who gets blamed?
Here’s the part they skip: layoffs don’t come from thin air. An estimated $200 million budget gap is what happens when the math stops mattering and the politics keeps spending.
If you cannot balance your own city budget, don’t lecture the rest of Colorado about “solutions.” You can’t govern a city on vibes and victory laps.
If Denver voters want a real reset, demand measurable results: safer streets, cleaner public spaces, and a budget that doesn’t require panic cuts. Pick policies that survive contact with reality. And stop rewarding leaders who treat basic competence like an optional add-on.
Source: Colorado state news, events, trends | The Denver Post
