2023_Colorado_Springs_mayoral_election
The 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral election was held on April 4, 2023, to elect the mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a runoff scheduled for May 16. Incumbent mayor John Suthers was term-limited and could not seek a third term in office. The election was officially nonpartisan.[1]
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| Turnout | 35.15%  (first round)37.41%  (runoff) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A wide field of candidates filed to run in the election, including several members of municipal government. Colorado Springs has long been a conservative bastion in the state of Colorado, and none of the candidates running to succeed Suthers identified as members of the Democratic Party. In the first round of voting, no candidate received a majority and the race was forced to a runoff election. Independent African immigrant and political newcomer Yemi Mobolade advanced to the runoff, along with Republican city councilor and former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams.[2]
Mobolade defeated Williams in the runoff.[3] He became the first elected black mayor of Colorado Springs, as well as the first non-Republican elected[lower-alpha 1] mayor in the city's history.[3][4]
The following candidates qualified to appear on the ballot.[5] Glenn and Gonzalez were identified as the most conservative candidates in the race, with Strand and Williams being more moderate.[6]
Advanced to runoff
- Blessing "Yemi" Mobolade, restaurateur and former Colorado Springs Small Business Development administrator (Party affiliation: Independent)[7]
- Wayne Williams, at-large city councilor and former Colorado Secretary of State (Party affiliation: Republican)[8]
Eliminated in first round
- Sallie Clark, former Colorado director of USDA Rural Development, former El Paso County commissioner, former Colorado Springs city councilor, former president of the National Association of Counties, and candidate for mayor in 1999 and 2003 (Party affiliation: Republican)[9]
- Andrew Dalby, RV storage business owner[10]
- Darryl Glenn, Penrose Hospital trustee, former El Paso County commissioner, former Colorado Springs city councilor, nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016, and candidate for CO-05 in 2018 (Party affiliation: Republican)[11]
- Longinos Gonzalez Jr., El Paso County commissioner (Party affiliation: Republican)[12]
- Lawrence Martinez, hospice home care specialist and perennial candidate[13]
- Jim Miller, tire business owner[13]
- Christopher Mitchell, electrical engineer[14]
- Kallan Rodebaugh, standup comedian[13]
- Tom Strand, president of the Colorado Springs city council (Party affiliation: Independent)[15][6]
- John "Tig" Tiegen, former CIA security contractor[16]
Endorsements
- Local officials
- Steve Bach, former mayor of Colorado Springs (2011–2015)[17]
- Local officials
- John Suthers, mayor of Colorado Springs (2015–2023) and former Colorado Attorney General (2005–2015)[18]
- Labor unions
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yemi Mobolade | 32,429 | 29.81 | |
| Wayne Williams | 20,908 | 19.22 | |
| Sallie Clark | 19,384 | 17.82 | |
| Darryl Glenn | 9,470 | 8.70 | |
| Longinos Gonzalez Jr. | 8,622 | 7.93 | |
| John Tig Tiegen | 5,405 | 4.97 | |
| Andrew Dalby | 4,825 | 4.44 | |
| Tom Strand | 2,597 | 2.39 | |
| Lawrence Joseph Martinez | 1,823 | 1.68 | |
| Christopher Mitchell | 1,248 | 1.15 | |
| Kallan Reece Rodebaugh | 1,129 | 1.04 | |
| Jim Miller | 948 | 0.87 | |
| Total votes | 108,788 | 100.00 | |
Endorsements
Endorsements in bold were made after the primary election.
- Federal officials
- Sallie Clark, former Colorado director of USDA Rural Development, former El Paso County commissioner, former Colorado Springs city councilor, former president of the National Association of Counties, and former 2023 mayoral candidate (Republican)[22]
- County officials
- Bill Elder, former El Paso County Sheriff[23]
- Amy Folsom, former El Paso County Administrator[24]
- City officials
- Tom Strand, president of the Colorado Springs city council and former 2023 mayoral candidate[25]
- Local officials
- Lynette Crow-Iverson, Colorado Springs city councilor[24]
- Dave Donelson, Colorado Springs city councilor[24]
- Randy Helms, Colorado Springs city councilor[24]
- Dave Leinweber, Colorado Springs city councilor[24]
- Mike O'Malley, Colorado Springs city councilor[24]
- John Suthers, mayor of Colorado Springs (2015–present) and former Colorado Attorney General (2005–2015)[18]
- Labor unions
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yemi Mobolade | 67,442 | 57.47 | |
| Wayne Williams | 49,909 | 42.53 | |
| Total votes | 117,351 | 100.00 | |
- Although Mobolade is the first black and first non-Republican elected mayor of Colorado Springs, he is not the first black person or first non-Republican to serve as mayor; Leon Young, a black Democrat, briefly served as acting mayor in 1997 following the resignation of Bob Isaac.
- "Mayoral election in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2023)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- Jent, Breeanna (April 5, 2023). "Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election: What's next?". The Gazette. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- Jent, Breeanna (May 17, 2023). "Yemi Mobolade makes Colorado Springs history, becoming city's first elected Black mayor". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- "Daily Kos Elections Live Digest: 1/25". January 25, 2023.
- Singh, Kate (April 4, 2022). "Yemi Mobolade announces bid to become the next mayor". KXRM-TV. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- Shinn, Mary (February 2, 2022). "Colorado Springs Councilman Wayne Williams making bid for mayor's seat". The Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- Zubeck, Pam (November 11, 2021). "Darryl Glenn will run for COS mayor in 2023". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- Wallace, Glenn (April 1, 2022). "County commissioner running for mayor in 2023". www.southeastexpress.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
- "Tom Strand announces campaign for Mayor". May 30, 2022.
- "April 4, 2023 General Municipal Election Results". Colorado Springs City Clerk. April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- "May 16, 2023 Mayoral Run-Off Election Results". Colorado Springs City Clerk. May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.