Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston are the final two contestants in the June 6th Denver mayor election, after they both emerged from a group of 22 candidates in the April 2023 general election. Johnston received 24.4% of the votes in the April general election, while Brough finished in second place with 20%. The runoff election is needed as the city of Denver requires the winner to receive more than 50% of the votes. 

Mike Johnston has held positions as CEO of Gary Community Ventures, a state senator from 2009 to 2017, and was a school principal. He has a track record of developing workable solutions and building substantial coalitions to back them. For instance, he was instrumental in getting Proposition EE added to the ballot in 2020, which passed. Proposition EE increased the levy on tobacco products in Colorado, with the majority of the money raised going to the state's preschool program. Johnston asserts that one of the biggest dangers that Denver confronts is the risk of rising crime and homelessness driving residents away from the city's center. He claims to have solutions, such as the development of 25,000 permanently affordable houses.

Kelly Brough has experience as a Denver Council Legislative Analyst, HR Director, Chief of Staff to Mayor Hickenlooper, Chief Strategy Officer at MSU-Denver, and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber. She has stated that “street life” is neither humane nor safe for individuals experiencing homelessness, and she has proposed removing unsanctioned encampments in the first year. Additionally, she plans to embrace a regional, data-driven approach; investing in prevention and shelter/housing for the homeless. Brough believes that Denver deserves affordable housing solutions that are favorable for individuals of all income spectrums. She also wants to rethink and revitalize downtown and surrounding neighborhoods by converting commercial space to residential. 

The question for debate, who would make a better mayor for Denver, Mike Johnston or Kelly Brough?