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Mayoral election in Colorado Springs, Colorado (2019)

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2021
2017
2019 Colorado Springs elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: January 22, 2019
General election: April 2, 2019
Runoff election: May 21, 2019 (unnecessary)
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor and city council
Total seats up: 4 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Nonpartisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2019

The city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, held a general election for mayor on April 2, 2019. A runoff election was scheduled for May 21, 2019, but incumbent John Suthers received enough votes to win the general election outright. The filing deadline for this election was January 22, 2019.

Incumbent John Suthers won election in the general election for Mayor of Colorado Springs.

Elections

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Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of Colorado Springs

Incumbent John Suthers defeated Juliette Parker, John Pitchford, and Lawrence Martinez in the general election for Mayor of Colorado Springs on April 2, 2019.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of John Suthers
John Suthers (Nonpartisan)
 
72.5
 
69,771
Image of Juliette Parker
Juliette Parker (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
11.9
 
11,453
John Pitchford (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
10.4
 
9,994
Image of Lawrence Martinez
Lawrence Martinez (Nonpartisan)
 
5.2
 
5,009

Total votes: 96,227
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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Past elections

2015

See also: Colorado Springs, Colorado municipal elections, 2015

The city of Colorado Springs, Colorado, held elections for mayor and city council on April 7, 2015. A runoff election took place on May 19, 2015.[1] The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was February 11, 2015.[2]

In the general election for mayor, candidates Mary Lou Makepeace and John Suthers advanced past Tony Carpenter, Amy Lathen, Lawrence Martinez and Joel Miller.[3][4] Suthers defeated Makepeace in a runoff election on May 19, 2015.[5] Incumbent Steve Bach did not run for re-election.[6]

Mayor of Colorado Springs, Runoff Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Suthers 67.6% 65,991
Mary Lou Makepeace 32.4% 31,666
Total Votes 97,657
Source: City of Colorado Springs, "Official runoff election results," accessed May 28, 2015


Mayor of Colorado Springs, General Election, 2015
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngJohn Suthers 46.5% 40,900
Green check mark transparent.pngMary Lou Makepeace 23.6% 20,783
Joel Miller 15.7% 13,794
Amy Lathen 11.8% 10,352
Lawrence Martinez 1.3% 1,125
Tony Carpenter 1.2% 1,048
Total Votes 86,954
Source: City of Colorado Springs - Official general election results

2011

In the April 5, 2011 general election, Bach received approximately 33 percent of the vote, while one of his opponents, Richard Skorman, received over 35%. Bach and Skorman then faced off in a runoff election held on May 17, 2011. In the runoff, Bach defeated Skorman 57 percent to 43 percent.

Mayor of Colorado Springs, May 17, 2011
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Bach 57.1% 56,656
Richard Skorman 42.9% 42,522
Total Votes 99,178
Source: Colorado Spring Clerk's Office - May 17, 2011 Mayoral Runoff Election Results


Mayor of Colorado Springs, April 5, 2011
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngRichard Skorman 35.8% 31,889
Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Bach 33.5% 29,767
Kenneth Paul Duncan 1.1% 972
Dave Munger 4.4% 3,957
Tom Gallagher 5.3% 4,703
Mitch Christiansen 0.6% 515
Buddy Gilmore 4% 3,581
Brian Bahr 15.3% 13,576
Total Votes 71,288
Source: Colorado Spring Clerk's Office - April 5, 2011 Mayoral Runoff Election Results

Additional elections on the ballot

See also: Colorado elections, 2019

What's on your ballot?
Click here to find out using My Vote

Mayoral partisanship

Once mayors elected in 2019 assumed office, the mayors of 65 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Out of the 31 mayoral elections that were held in 2019 in the 100 largest cities, five partisan changes occurred. Democrats gained three mayorships: two previously held by Republicans and one previously held by an independent. Republicans won one office held by an unaffiliated mayor, and one office where the incumbent's partisan affiliation was unknown.

In the elections in Phoenix, Arizona and Wichita, Kansas, Democrats won seats with Republican incumbents. In Wichita, Democrat Brandon Whipple defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Longwell. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a Democrat won a seat previously held by an independent. In Aurora, Colorado, a Republican succeeded an unaffiliated mayor. In Garland, Texas, a Republican succeeded a mayor with unknown party affiliation. Incumbents did not seek re-election in Phoenix, Raleigh, Aurora, or Garland.

Click here to learn more.

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Candidate survey

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Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Juliette Parker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Parker's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

LISTENING to the RESIDENTS and providing them with transparency. Affordable Housing/Homelessness. Infrastructure, so that not only can the residents of our cite have a better, safe city to live in, but also so our city will be able to attract & grow more companies that will provide good jobs of all levels. Infrastructure includes not just the roads & bridges, but also updating the city's technology, broadband/wi-fi/fiber-optics, making the entire city ADA accessible, putting in sidewalks & street lights and much more.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about making sure our elected officials work for the people,not rule over them. For far to long we've been subjected to politicians that just do whatever they want to, instead of listening to the people they are suppose to be working for.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My dad. He is a retired Army Colonel, a pediatric gastroenterologist, and a hard working, honest person. He is honest no matter what & always tries his hardest to be the best person he can be. He is amazing.

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

Honesty, Good moral code/compass, Caring, Respectful, Smart, Understanding, Common Sense, Ethics, Ability to think outside the box.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honest, Good moral code & compass, Caring, Respectful, Smart, Understanding, Common Sense, Passionate, Ethics, Ability to think outside the box. I value people and respect others, even if they don't hold the same views as me. I am compassionate and a good listener. I have traveled all over and experienced so many things that have taught me the importance of being able to seeing things from someone else's shoes and to be a good person. I am not beholden to anyone expect the voters and I am beyond reproach.

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

To listen to the voters and how they want their city to be or not be. To help make Colorado Springs a safe, happy, and prosperous city for all of its residents.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I don't want to leave a legacy. I'm not running for fame or fortune or as a stepping stone to the next level. I'm running, because Colorado Springs is my home and the people who live here deserve a Mayor that will actually LISTEN to THEM! My children and the children of all of the residents of Colorado Springs, deserve to have a safe city they can grow and thrive in. A city they can get good jobs of varying types & levels in and build their lives in after high school/college. I want to make Colorado Springs that city.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Taco Bell. 1 year

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My kids. They fill my life with joy and remind me everyday what the point of life really is.

Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city?

LISTENING TO THE RESIDENTS!

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

Cooperation. Working together to give our residents what they want & need.

What do you love most about your city?

The Most? Do I have to really just pick one? Ok.... The people/community is what I love most about my city. Colorado Springs is a "community city", we have so many unique small businesses and people. It makes us truly special and I want to make sure we never lose that community, even as we grow as a city. The mountains, hiking and sunshine are pretty awesome too though ;-)

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Handling our growth and our water shortage. Making sure we have enough water, housing, good jobs, quality roads & infrastructure to handle our current population, as well as the growth in our population.

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.



Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

John Pitchford completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pitchford's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Balance growth with tax revenues. Currently Colorado Springs is severely underfunded and this problem will made worse by more growth because significant amounts of tax revenue are being diverted into the hands of special-interest groups. This practice must be stopped. Protecting our parks and open spaces. Recently the citizens of this city lost one of its most iconic public spaces, Strawberry Fields Park. The park was traded away in a deal that was so bad that the appraiser making the evaluation was censured and fined for his work. This city is poised to become a major hub for startup entrepreneurialism. One of the major determinants in which cities are able to benefit from this kind of growth is the quality of its public spaces. As mayor I will protect the public spaces and ensure any sale or transfer of any public park is made by a vote of the people and not an administrative decision. Transparency and accountability in government. The city currently has a significant problem with transparency in governmental operations. Recently the citizens of the city were informed of millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements in which they were not informed. These suits involved racial discrimination and sexual harassment and it is unacceptable that the public not be informed.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public safety. Over the course of the last 4 years the city has experienced a 50% increase in serious crime. Last year saw the highest number of murders in the city’s history. The response time of the police and the fire departments has been deteriorating. Our firefighters work with equipment that is well beyond its normal replacement age and as a result have suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. The fair finance of the city budget. The city encourages growth with significant special tax incentives that are available to only a select group of individuals. This practice decreases sales tax revenue needed to run the city and will ultimately discourage smaller businesses from opening in Colorado Springs. Respect for the citizens and its employees. The city administration should respect the voice of the people. It should not impose administrative decisions that inconvenience and disrupt the lives of tens of thousands of its citizens without their consent. The city should not disparage any group of people. The city must negotiate in good faith with its employees.

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.



About the city

See also: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is a city in El Paso County, Colorado. As of 2010, its population was 416,427.

City government

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of Colorado Springs uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body while the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.[7]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs Colorado
Population 416,427 5,029,196
Land area (sq mi) 195 103,636
Race and ethnicity**
White 78.5% 84%
Black/African American 6.5% 4.2%
Asian 2.9% 3.2%
Native American 0.8% 1%
Pacific Islander 0.3% 0.2%
Other (single race) 5.1% 3.9%
Multiple 5.9% 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 17.6% 21.5%
Education
High school graduation rate 93.9% 91.7%
College graduation rate 39.9% 40.9%
Income
Median household income $64,712 $72,331
Persons below poverty level 11.7% 10.3%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


State profile

See also: Colorado and Colorado elections, 2019
USA Colorado location map.svg

Partisan data

The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019

Presidential voting pattern

Congressional delegation

State executives

  • Democrats held 11 and Republicans held five of Colorado's 25 state executive offices. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
  • Colorado's governor was Democrat Jared Polis.

State legislature

Colorado Party Control: 1992-2026
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
Senate R R R R R R R R R D D R R D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D
House R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D

Colorado quick stats
  • Became a state in 1876
  • 38th state admitted to the United States
  • Colorado was the first state to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana.
  • Members of the Colorado State Senate: 35
  • Members of the Colorado House of Representatives: 65
  • U.S. senators: 2
  • U.S. representatives: 7

More Colorado coverage on Ballotpedia:


Demographic data for Colorado
 ColoradoU.S.
Total population:5,448,819316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):103,6423,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:84.2%73.6%
Black/African American:4%12.6%
Asian:2.9%5.1%
Native American:0.9%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:3.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:21.1%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:90.7%86.7%
College graduation rate:38.1%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$60,629$53,889
Persons below poverty level:13.5%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Colorado.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Four of 64 Colorado counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Conejos County, Colorado 3.56% 9.22% 12.93%
Huerfano County, Colorado 6.61% 8.27% 11.23%
Las Animas County, Colorado 15.60% 2.65% 7.04%
Pueblo County, Colorado 0.50% 13.99% 14.97%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Colorado with 48.2 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 43.3 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Colorado voted Republican 63.3 percent of the time and Democratic 36.7 percent of the time. Colorado voted Republican in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, but voted Democratic in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 elections.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Colorado. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[8][9]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 37 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 27.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 40 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 24.8 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 28 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 21.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 25 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 25.8 points. Trump won one district controlled by a Democrat heading into the 2018 elections.

See also

Colorado Springs, Colorado Colorado Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes