2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election

2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election
← 2018 November 7, 2023 (first round)
January 23, 2024 (runoff)		 2027 →
 
Candidate Heather Graham Nick Gradisar Chris Nicoll
First round 6,073
22.6% 		5,604
20.8% 		3,553
13.2%
Runoff 15,632
62.4% 		9,427
37.6% 		Eliminated
 
Candidate Randy Thurston Dennis Flores Regina Maestri
First round 3,290
12.2% 		3,109
11.6% 		1,950
7.2%
Runoff Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated
 
Candidate Larry Atencio
First round 1,933
7.2%
Runoff Eliminated
Mayor before election

Nick Gradisar
Democratic

Elected mayor

Heather Graham
Republican

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Pueblo
Mayoral elections

The 2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor of Pueblo, Colorado. Incumbent Democratic mayor Nick Gradisar ran for re-election to a second term in office. Since there was no candidate that received a majority of votes in the initial round of the election, a runoff election was held on January 23, 2024.[1] The election was officially nonpartisan, meaning that party affiliations are not listed on the ballot.[2]

A group collected signatures for a ballot initiative to eliminate the position of mayor and replace it with an unelected city manager. If it had passed, the 2023 mayoral election would have been canceled. Pueblo previously used the council-manager system for nearly a century before switching to a mayor-council system in 2017.[3] The group failed to collect enough signatures. It was discovered that Pueblo City Attorney Dan Kogovsek gave the initiative organizers incorrect information about how many signatures they would need to make the ballot, after which Kogovsek resigned at Gradisar's request.[4]

A total of nine candidates filed to run for mayor. Gradisar and Republican city council president Heather Graham prevailed over a wide field of candidates in the first round, including Republican former city council president Chris Nicoll, Republican former city councilor Randy Thurston, Democratic at-large city councilor Dennis Flores, Republican city councilor Regina Maestri, and Democratic city councilor Larry Atencio. The Republican candidates combined for 55.2% of the vote compared to 42.9% for the Democrats, with the balance going to an independent candidate.

Graham won the runoff in a landslide, unseating Gradisar and becoming Pueblo's first female mayor.[5]

Candidates

Declared

The following nine candidates made the ballot:[2]

  • Larry Atencio, city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Democratic)[6]
  • Thomas Croshal, retired construction business owner (Party affiliation: Democratic)[7]
  • Nick Gradisar, incumbent mayor (Party affiliation: Democratic)[8]
  • Dennis Flores, at-large city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Democratic)[9]
  • Heather Graham, city council president (Party affiliation: Republican)[10]
  • Regina Maestri, city councilor (Party affiliation: Republican)[11]
  • Chris Nicoll, former city council president and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Republican)[12]
  • Randy Thurston, former city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018 (Party affiliation: Republican)[13]
  • Deryk Trujillo, graphic designer and YouTuber (Party affiliation: Independent)[14]

Failed to make ballot

  • Thomas Martinez, retired steel worker (Party affiliation: Democratic)[2]

Withdrew

  • Samuel Hernandez, food truck business owner (Party affiliation: Republican) (ran for city council)[15]

Declined

  • Mark Aliff, former city councilor (successfully ran for an at-large city council seat)[16]
  • Jeff Chostner, district attorney for the 10th Judicial District[16]
  • Steve Nawrocki, former city councilor and runner-up for mayor in 2018[16]
  • Garrison Ortiz, Pueblo County commissioner[16]
  • Lori Winner, city councilor and candidate for mayor in 2018[16]

First round

Endorsements

Nick Gradisar (D)

Organizations

  • Pueblo Firefighters Union[8]
Heather Graham (R)

Organizations

  • Pueblo Police Union[7]
Randy Thurston (R)

Statewide officials

Declined to endorse

Newspapers

Results

2023 Pueblo mayoral general election[17]
Candidate Votes %
Heather Graham 6,073 22.6
Nick Gradisar (Incumbent) 5,604 20.8
Chris Nicoll 3,553 13.2
Randy Thurston 3,290 12.2
Dennis Flores 3,109 11.6
Regina Maestri 1,950 7.2
Larry Atencio 1,933 7.2
Thomas Croshal 900 3.3
Deryk Trujillo 500 1.9
Total votes 26,912 100.00

Runoff

Endorsements

Endorsements in bold were made after the general election.

Nick Gradisar (D)

U.S. Senators

Statewide officials

Organizations

  • Pueblo Firefighters Union[8]
Heather Graham (R)

County officials

Local officials

  • Randy Thurston, former Pueblo city councilor and 2023 mayoral candidate[18]

Organizations

  • Pueblo Police Union[7]
Declined to endorse

Newspapers

Results

2023 Pueblo mayoral runoff[19]
Candidate Votes %
Heather Graham 15,632 62.38
Nick Gradisar (Incumbent) 9,427 37.62
Total votes 25,059 100.00

References

  1. ^ "Pueblo 2023 Election Day live coverage and results". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Winfrey, Anna (September 4, 2023). "Who's running in Pueblo elections in 2023? Here's who qualified for the ballot". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  3. ^ "Anti-mayor petition fails to collect enough signatures by Monday deadline". January 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Anti-mayor petitioners vow lawsuit, city attorney to retire after organizers misled on signature requirement".
  5. ^ "Heather Graham to be the next mayor of Pueblo, according to unofficial results". KOAA News 5. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Winfrey, Anna (July 11, 2023). "Longtime city councilor officially launches bid for Pueblo mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Wilson, Sara (October 1, 2023). "Pueblo mayor race". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar formally announces reelection bid".
  9. ^ Bartolo, James (March 30, 2023). "Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores announces candidacy for mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "City council president Heather Graham announces bid for Pueblo mayor".
  11. ^ Winfrey, Anna (August 7, 2023). "Another Pueblo city councilor joins the race for mayor". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  12. ^ "Former Pueblo City Council president launches 2023 bid for mayor".
  13. ^ "Former city councilor Randy Thurston running for Pueblo mayor again".
  14. ^ "Pueblo livestreamer announces candidacy for mayor while smoking blunt on YouTube show".
  15. ^ Winfrey, Anna (July 13, 2023). "District 2 race shaping up after Pueblo mayoral candidate drops out to run for council". The Pueblo Chieftain. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d e "Who is running for Pueblo mayor in 2023? Here's what we know". January 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "Pueblo results". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d e Winfrey, Anna (December 12, 2023). "Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar snags endorsements from top Colorado Democrats". The Pueblo Chieftain. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "Election Results | Pueblo, CO - Official Website". www.pueblo.us. Retrieved January 24, 2024.

Official campaign websites

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