Ten Candidates Will Compete for Denver Council Seat
The race for the vacant At-Large B City Council seat will be decided in November 2026.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Political Parties
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Ten candidates will compete in November 2026 for the vacant Denver City Council At-Large B seat. The position became available following the resignation of Sarah Parady due to illness.
Why it matters
The Denver Democrats endorsed Melissa Mejía for the seat, aiming to boost participation in an off-cycle election historically marked by low voter turnout. The winner will hold the seat until July 2027.
Candidates raised $128,000 in individual contributions, while the Fair Elections Fund distributed $180,000. This follows a specific committee vote where winners of party endorsements needed two-thirds support.
The players
Melissa Mejía
A candidate for the City Council who secured the endorsement of the Denver Democrats.
Sarah Parady
The former City Council member who resigned from the At-Large B seat due to illness.
Monica Martinez
A candidate in the council race who raised $36,500 in donations and $82,440 in public matching funds.
Julissa Soto
A candidate who raised the highest amount of individual funds for the race, including a personal $50,000 contribution.
Mike Johnston
The Mayor of Denver who announced he will not issue an endorsement in this race.
The details
The race includes diverse funding strategies, such as Monica Martinez raising $36,500 from donors supplemented by $82,440 in public matching funds. Julissa Soto led individual fundraising efforts, bolstered by a $50,000 self-contribution.
Timeline
Sarah Parady resigned from the Denver City Council in 2026.
The election for the council seat occurs in November 2026.
A regular-term election for the seat will occur in spring 2027.
The temporary council member concludes their term in July 2027.
Political Context
The opposition to party-backed candidates often centers on the influence of institutional endorsements versus independent grassroots campaigning. Critics of party involvement argue that such interventions can limit the diversity of thought in nonpartisan municipal races.
Residents in Denver will see the outcome of this election impact representation on the City Council until the spring 2027 regular-term cycle. Voters should review candidate platforms as the November 2026 election date approaches.
The takeaway
This election highlights the evolving landscape of municipal campaign finance and the weight of party endorsements in Denver. Voters can prepare for the November election by monitoring public disclosure filings for the remaining campaign period.
Further reading
Learn more about local party influence in the Political Parties section.
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