Mejía leads at-large council race as Parady successor nears decision

Melissa Mejía held a 28 percent lead in the special election for an at-large Denver City Council seat early Tuesday evening. The Denver Clerk and Recorder’s Office released these first results shortly after 7 p.m. Monica Martinez trailed in second place with 17 percent of the vote. Whitney Traylor followed in third with 15 percent.

The race involves ten candidates total. Alfredo Reyes, Jeff Walker, Gabriel Konkle, Raymon Doane, Cynthia Diaz, Julissa Soto, and Jake Browne also appear on the ballot. The winner will take over a seat vacated by former Councilwoman Sarah Parady. Parady resigned earlier this year citing health concerns.

This November special election serves a different purpose than the regular April cycle. The victor will represent the entire city for the remainder of Parady's term. The term ends next July. The winner will join the two other at-large representatives. The remaining 11 council members serve specific geographic districts.

Unlike the regular spring election, this contest does not include a runoff round. If no candidate achieves 50 percent of the vote, the person with the highest total wins. The city plans to update results every 90 minutes as workers process ballots from the final day of voting.

Fundraising and endorsements have shaped the campaign. Martinez received the most donations and endorsements from prominent figures. Mejía secured high-powered endorsements and raised the second-highest amount of money from Denver voters. Parady endorsed Traylor for the seat she vacated.

The city’s Fair Elections Fund played a major role in financing the race. The fund matched donations of up to $50 from Denver residents on a 9-to-1 basis. It distributed a total of $454,000 in this election. Candidates qualified by collecting at least 100 contributions of at least $5 from local residents.

The winner of the vacancy election is scheduled for an official swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 30. The new councilmember will serve until the end of the term next July.