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Lisa Calderón announces bid for Denver mayor

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Lisa Calderón announces bid for Denver mayor


Lisa Calderón, a progressive Democrat, announced Tuesday that she’ll be running for Denver mayor in the April 6, 2027, election.

Calderón, who has worked in different capacities at several Colorado nonprofits and in academia, is hoping to unseat Denver Mayor Mike Johnston after his first term. Denver mayors serve four-year terms and can serve a maximum of three terms.

“Denver residents are asking for leadership that makes our city work for everyone. Across neighborhoods, people are urging me to run and telling me the same thing: despite Mike Johnston’s campaign promises, things have only gotten harder,” Calderón said in her candidacy announcement. “The cost of living keeps rising, the city faces serious financial challenges, and homelessness has been pushed out of sight rather than solved. And when people have pushed back against the mayor’s decisions they have been retaliated against or entirely ignored.”

In her announcement, Calderón said she joins other Denver residents who disapprove of Johnston’s leadership and management of the city’s budget. A budget shortfall last year led to the city laying off about 170 city workers and eliminating 665 open job positions.

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“Johnston’s overspending and mismanagement of the budget have compromised the future of our city,” Calderón said. “He repeatedly misleads voters and allows billionaires and lobbyists to influence neighborhood decisions. Someone has to stand up and take him on. I came very close to beating him once, and I am the best person to challenge him and win.”

Calderón touted her performance in the 2023 mayoral general election, where she came in third with 18.1% of the vote compared to Kelly Brough’s 20.1% and Johnston’s 24.5%, missing the runoff by less than 2% of the total vote. She compared her campaign budget at the time of about $300,000, which she called a “grassroots campaign,” to Johnston’s approximately $3 million, which she said was funded “largely from out-of-state donors, corporate contributors, charter school reformers, and billionaires.”

Lisa Calderón listens during a Denver city mayoral debate at McAuliffe International School on Tuesday, March 14, 2023.

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images

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Campaign finance records show a total of $14.9 million was spent in opposition to Calderón in that race, versus $8.3 million spent in opposition to Johnston, according to the Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

After the 2023 general election, Calderón endorsed Johnston.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office responded to Calderón’s claims with the following statement:

“As ICE threatens cities and President Trump attacks the rule of law, Mayor Johnston is leading the fight for Denver and our values while still delivering historic wins for our city. He’s taken on our toughest problems, achieved the largest reduction in street homelessness of any major American city, cut violent crime and auto theft in half, and made Denver a more affordable and vibrant place to live, work, and explore. The work is never over, but we would put our record up against anyone’s.”

Calderón also ran for mayor in 2019 against the former incumbent, Michael Hancock, coming in third place with 18.47% of the vote. Challenger Jamie Giellis got 24.86%, and Hancock won reelection with 38.65% that year.

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She’s the executive director of Women Uprising, an organization that trains and prepares progressive women across Colorado to run for office, and is the elected co-chair of the Colorado Working Families Party State Committee. She currently teaches at Regis University in the criminology department and is a consultant on law and policy matters.

She previously worked as a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and later served on the faculty at CU Denver. She got her bachelor’s degree at Metropolitan State University of Denver, a master’s degree from the University of Denver, a law degree from the University of Colorado, and a doctorate from CU Denver.

Calderón joins Aurelio Martinez, who receieved 0.44% of the vote in the 2023 mayoral election, in the April 2027 mayoral race, according to Denver election records.



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Keeler: Why did 2026 Broncos trade for Jaylen Waddle? Because they learned a lesson from 2025 Chiefs

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Keeler: Why did 2026 Broncos trade for Jaylen Waddle? Because they learned a lesson from 2025 Chiefs


Even Snakes roll snake eyes. As a Broncos quarterback, Jake Plummer went 3-3 in one-score games during the 2004 regular season. In 2005, Jake The Snake improved to 5-2 in those tilts. Plummer followed that up with a 3-5 record in one-score games during 2006.

Down. Up. Down. Close wins in the NFL, year-to-year, are about as consistently reliable as New Jersey Transit.

“You can’t coach clutch,” Plummer texted me Tuesday. “It’s either in your blood, or it isn’t.”

The Bo-lief is strong enough in Broncos Country right now to bench press a F-450 Super Duty. Bo Nix is 24-10 as a Broncos QB1 in regular-season tussles, 25-11 overall. He’s 13-8 in games decided by eight points or fewer as an NFL starter, and went 12-2 last fall.

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The Broncos put up a mark of 11-2 in one-score games in 2025, tying an NFL record for one-score victories (11) in a season. Nix replaced Patrick Mahomes as the NFL’s Comeback King. Before the madness of Sean Payton’s fourth-down call in the AFC Championship, Denver had a method.

“The ones that have it, you can see it in their eyes,” Plummer continued. “It permeates the whole situation and something akin to faith!”

Faith is contagious.

Fortune is fickle.

Why did Denver trade for Jaylen Waddle?

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Why are fans clamoring for another hammer at tailback to pair with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey?

Why do they want more speed at inside linebacker, someone who can run with tight ends up the seam?

Because history doesn’t say 11 one-score victories is hard to repeat.

History says it’s nearly impossible.

Over the last five decades, only five NFL teams have won 10 or more one-score games in a season — the Broncos became the newest member of that club last December.

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Colorado weather: Record heat returns to Denver, northern part of state

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Colorado weather: Record heat returns to Denver, northern part of state


Two more days of record-breaking heat are forecast for northern Colorado this week, including in the Denver area, according to the National Weather Service.

Earlier forecasts from the weather service projected 90-degree temperatures in Denver on Wednesday, which would have marked the city’s first of the year and earliest on record. The expected temperature high has since dropped to 88 degrees, which would still break daily and monthly heat records, according to the weather service.

NWS Tuesday forecasts:

  • 64 degrees in Dillion, breaking the 63-degree record for March 24.
  • 75 degrees in Evergreen, breaking the 71-degree daily record.
  • 81 degrees in Denver, breaking the 76-degree daily record.
  • 83 degrees at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, breaking the 76-degree daily record.
  • 83 degrees in Boulder, breaking the 76-degree daily record.
  • 84 degrees at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, breaking the 80-degree daily record.

NWS Wednesday forecasts:

  • 69 degrees in Dillion, breaking the 62-degree record for March 24.
  • 80 degrees in Evergreen, breaking the 75-degree daily record.
  • 88 degrees in Denver, breaking the 75-degree daily record and the 86-degree March heat record. Denver has broken or tied the March heat record three times so far this month, according to the weather service.
  • 89 degrees at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, breaking the 76-degree daily record.
  • 87 degrees in Boulder, breaking the 78-degree daily record.
  • 89 degrees at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, breaking the 79-degree daily record.



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Married couple stars on stage at Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ “Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors”

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Married couple stars on stage at Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ “Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors”


The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is celebrating more than 100 performances of its hit comedy “Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors.” The show, which puts a funny twist on the classic tale of Dracula, is filled with comedy and romance, and that romance can be seen both onstage and off.

“It is a great date night. It is fast, it is fun,” said Marco Alberto Robinson, the actor who portrays Dracula on stage.

Adriane and Marco Robinson

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“People leave with a smile on their face, it is a good time,” said Adriane Leigh Robinson, an actress who plays multiple characters during the show.

The duo not only finds romance on stage in the production, but off stage, they are already in love.

“We are just best buddies,” Marco Robinson said.

“We are married,” Adriane Robinson said as she laughed.

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The duo has lived in Denver for years and has enjoyed helping bring Dracula to life at the Garner Galleria.

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“Dracula is a cult classic about a blood thirsty monster. But this is different, because he is not only blood thirsty, he is spicy,” Adriane Robinson said.

The other cast members of the production told CBS News Colorado they are confident both Robinsons are capable of starring on Broadway in New York. However, both said they have found a purpose and belonging in Denver and at the DCPA.

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“We have found a super tight and loving community that we don’t ever want to leave,” Adriane Robinson said.

Both have been in many productions at the DCPA, but added Dracula has given them an opportunity to explore a side of their relationship that they’ve never had before.

“It’s the easiest (to be romantic interests on and off stage),” Adriane Robinson said.

“It is super easy. We can come up with something at home and bring it in. It is nice to not be passing ships,” Marco Robinson said.

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Both said they have an appreciation for the surrounding arts community in Colorado, and have loved being on the same funny production in Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors.

“We are putting roots down here, and regional theatre is super important. And, the Denver Center is doing some of the best of it,” Marco Robinson said.

Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors, plays at the DCPA through May 10. For more information on tickets, visit their website.

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