Former mayoral candidate and current State Sen. Chris Hansen, an early favored candidate in the race, has endorsed former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce head Kelly Brough to be the city's next mayor.
Hansen has a deep background in green energy. And as a lawmaker, he focused on solving the environmental crisis through green technologies.
On Friday, outside the state Capitol, he tied his endorsement of Brough to gun safety legislation banning ghost guns that he co-sponsored and passed through the Senate this week.
Hansen said "I know Kelly's commitment to ending gun violence in Colorado."
Of her experience overall, Hansen said Brough is a "proven executive." He continued: "She knows how to get things done. She has deep experience at City Hall."
Hansen ran a campaign focused on data-driven policy solutions to the city's big issues, like public safety and homelessness.
Along the way, he took hits from fellow candidates across the political spectrum for an ad they said disproportionately represented people of color as criminals and unhoused people. He refused to apologize or take down the message.
In fundraising, Hansen came in fifth place, with $648,417.99. But in the election, he came in sixth place with 8,309 votes, less than 5% of the total. He won no precincts.
Brough's biggest endorsement comes from former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and former State Rep. Wilma Webb. She also has the backing of former mayor Bill Vidal, mayoral candidates Kwame Spearman and Thomas Wolf, along with City Councilmember Kendra Black.
Competitor Mike Johnston has been endorsed by former Mayor Federico Peña, fifth place candidate and State Rep. Leslie Herod and former Colorado Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll.
