2023 Colorado Springs mayoral election
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April 4, 2023 (first round)
May 16, 2023 (runoff) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 35.15%  (first round)37.41%  (runoff) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
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 Nigerian 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[a] mayor in the city's history.[3][4]
Advanced to runoff
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]
- 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]
First round
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 | |
Runoff
Post-primary endorsements
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]
Results
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yemi Mobolade | 67,442 | 57.47 | |
| Wayne Williams | 49,909 | 42.53 | |
| Total votes | 117,351 | 100.00 | |