PRESS RELEASE – Dr. Lisa Calderón is running for Denver Mayor

Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

[Editorial note: This press release came out just before Calderon’s campaign kickoff, which has since passed. The 2026 State Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 30th. Learn more about important election dates here.]

Contact: Sarah Lake, (720) 601-8763

Denver, CO – Long-time Denver leader and top 2023 mayoral progressive candidate, Dr. Lisa Calderón, is running for Denver mayor. Dr. Calderón is heeding the increasing calls from residents citywide to make Mayor Mike Johnston a one-term mayor.

“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. 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.”

Dr. Calderón shares the increasing sentiments of Denver residents that Johnston has been bad for Denver, with 45% of Denverites disapproving of him.

“Johnston’s overspending and mismanagement of the budget have compromised the future of our city,” states Dr. Calderón. “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.”

Dr. Calderón enters the race with a track record of advocating for the people of Denver and brings an experienced campaign team. She was a top contender against Mike Johnston in the last mayoral election, nearly missing the runoff by less than 2% of the vote. She was the leading progressive challenger, winning districts across Denver with a grassroots campaign and a budget totalling $300,000 compared to Johnston’s $3 million, funded largely from out-of-state donors, corporate contributors, charter school reformers, and billionaires. The deciding factor for Dr. Calderón’s decision to enter the race was Mayor Johnston’s decision to lay off Denver City employees.

“Someone has to stand up and fight for workers.” Dr. Calderón, also a former city employee, organized with workers and local unions to oppose Johnston’s unprecedented layoffs — disproportionately impacting women, older workers, and people of color. She even helped to arrange legal resources for laid-off workers when the city failed to follow due process. Dr. Calderón brings a wealth of experience in addition to her community organizing. She is the Executive Director of Women Uprising, an organization that trains 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. Dr. Calderón’s campaign kickoff will be on  Wednesday, February 11, at Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center.

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