Leora Joseph

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Leora Joseph

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 25, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Barnard College, 1990

Law

McGill University, 1993

Personal

Birthplace

New York, N.Y.

Religion

Jewish

Profession

Lawyer

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign YouTube

Leora Joseph (Democratic Party) ran for election for Denver District Attorney in Colorado. She lost in the Democratic primary on June 25, 2024.

Joseph completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Leora Joseph was born in New York, New York. She earned a bachelor's degree from Barnard College in 1990 and a law degree from McGill University in 1993. Her career experience includes working as a lawyer.

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Denver, Colorado (2024)

General election

General election for Denver District Attorney

John Walsh won election in the general election for Denver District Attorney on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Walsh (D)	100.0	265,110

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 265,110
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Denver District Attorney

John Walsh defeated Leora Joseph in the Democratic primary for Denver District Attorney on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Walsh	58.1	48,565
		Leora Joseph	41.9	34,967

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 83,532
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Joseph's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Joseph in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Leora Joseph completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Joseph's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Leora Joseph is an experienced attorney and criminal justice system leader. She has served in several public service roles within the justice system, including prosecuting sexual assault cases, serving as Chief of Staff to the Colorado Attorney General, overseeing an urban police department, and transforming systems that connect the justice system with the mental health system under Governor Polis. Leora has supervised special victims and human trafficking units, managed a staff of nearly 250 lawyers, and currently oversees the state’s Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health. She has met with over 1,000 sexual assault victims and served on Colorado’s Child Fatality Review Board. Leora was awarded the Colorado Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and the Ralph Martin Prosecutor of the Year in 2008. She has shared her expertise as a lecturer at renowned institutions such as the University of Colorado Denver and Harvard Law.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Leora is a strong advocate for public safety. She has spent a career protecting victims from horrific crimes and will continue to protect victims rights, making sure the justice system works for them.
• Denver is moving through a mental health crisis that is presenting as a public safety crisis. As DA, Leora will create real pathways to treatment for people suffering mental health crises and struggling with addiction. Leora is the only candidate in the race with professional behavioral health experience and understands how to use the court system to get people out of jail, off the streets, and into treatment, ending the cycle of recidivism, ending the use of jail as a place for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Leora Joseph believes that community engagement must be central to the District Attorney's office. She plans to align prosecutors with neighborhoods and other city services and institutions, including non-profits, schools, and police districts, to improve responsiveness. She will create opportunities for real participation in the DA's office from community.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The most important legislative initiative for the DA's office is bond reform. We need to implement a system that protects public safety without punishing poverty.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The District Attorney serves as a chief law enforcement officer for Denver. Denver is at a pivotal time in our city's history. We have the opportunity to help our city safer and model compassionate ways the courts can be used to create real pathways to treatment.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ethics, integrity, transparency.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibility of the Denver DA's office is to seek justice - it means doing what is right, without regard for politics. My goal is not to seek criminal conviction at any cost, but to make sure that the criminal justice system is working as it should and with integrity. The role of the DA is to make sure there is justice in the court room, and in community too. The DA has a responsibility to work on prevention and meaningful change in the criminal justice system.

What is your favorite book? Why?

"My Own Words" by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I remain motivated to pursue justice my entire career. Justice Ginsberg, known for her brilliant legal mind and her life lessons frequently given out from the bench, remains a key thought leader who has effected my life. In her book, RBG details many of the struggles strong women face even today.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The most important role of the DA's office is to seek justice.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The DA has full control of her own budget, and can spend accordingly to elevate her priorities including creating alternative pathways to mental health treatment and drug addiction. She can re-organize the office to ensure specialized support for victims of crime.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Being a District Attorney is a particular legal skill built around state law and state government, and operates very differently than a prosecutor's office at the federal level. Leora is the only candidate in the race who has worked in a district attorney's office and has government experience operating an agency focused on mental health treatment.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Denver Police Protective Association, Denver Firefighters Local 858, Pipefitters Local 208, Colorado Blueflower Fund, Speaker Julie McCluskie, Senator James Coleman, Senator Chris Hansen, Sen. Jeff Bridges, Rep. Steve Woodrow, Sen. Kyle Mullica, Sen. Kevin Priola, Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Rep. Shannon Bird, Rep. Judy Amabile, Rep. Kyle Brown, CU Regent Ilana Spiegel, DPS School Board Member Kimberley Sia, CO First Lady Dottie Lamm, Councilperson Amanda Sawyer, Noel Ginsburg, Karen Middleton, Vicki Cowart, Sean Camacho, Jason Robinson, Kwon Atlas, Marc Kamin, Rita Lewis, Dawn Reinfeld, Doug Friednash, Ian Silverii, Tish Maes, Ted Trimpa, Norm Brownstein, Katie March, Greg Moore, Mara Sheldon, Josh Jackson, Jude & Cindy Del Hierro

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Denver District Attorney

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