Update June 7 at 4:39 p.m.: Shontel Lewis has increased her lead in the District 8 and will likely be the area's new councilmember. With 14,560 total votes, Lewis earned 7,458 votes or 51%. Brad Revare has 7,102 votes or almost 49%. The Denver Clerk & Recorder's Office said all in-person and verified ballots have been counted. The remaining votes are from people overseas and 1,495 ballots need to be cured.
Denverite did not immediately hear back from Lewis or Revare about the final results.
Results won't be official until June 20.
Our original story follows below.
As of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, just 51 votes separated Brad Revare and Shontel Lewis. Lewis has 6,483 votes to Revare's 6,432.
"I think we're probably going to find this out in the morning," Revare said late Tuesday. "We're looking forward to it."
Lewis experienced similar feeling.
She said the vote is reminiscent of April's countdown and added that she was late to her own watch party dropping off late ballots.
In April, Lewis led the race with 35.71%, or 5,083 votes. Revare landed in second with 33.47% of the vote.
"I'm optimistically hopeful, and I am also nervous as hell," Lewis said Tuesday night. "It's a really big responsibility and there's a lot at stake. You know, we've said over and over again that the soul of our city is at stake. I am really, really hoping and very hopeful that folks turned up at the end."
District 8 had a crowded race as current Councilmember Chris Herndon is completing his final term. Lewis and Revare beat out the other three choices.
Revare is currently a director at Colorado Succeeds, a non-profit coalition of business leaders that advocate for education improvements. He also represents District 8 on the mayor's Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee.
Lewis currently works for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and was previously elected to serve on the Regional Transportation District's Board of Directors from 2019 to 2022. She also worked with Denver Public Schools working with their community engagement team.
Denver's District 8 covers Central Park, East Colfax, a portion of Montbello and all three Park Hills. The district gained all of East Colfax during the redistricting process, a move residents wanted because they felt these neighborhoods had similar concerns. In comparison to their former district, and more affluent, neighbors: Hilltop, Lowry and Montclair
The Montbello area in District 8 sits to the west of Peoria Street, Andrew Drive and Durham Court. The other side is represented by Councilmember Stacie Gilmore.
Data Source: Denver Elections Division
The district's main concerns are housing, crime and the future of the Park Hill Golf Course.
Revare and Lewis have addressed each concern in similar but different ways politically. From the housing aspect, Lewis and Revare both agree that accessory dwelling units and motel acquisitions can help solve the housing crisis from an affordable and available aspect. Lewis also wants to focus on social housing, while Revare is focused on creating more community land trusts.
With crime, Revare and Lewis again agree on funding and adding more youth programs and job training problems. Revare wants to better relations with Denver Police. Lewis wants to focus on why crime exists, such as low wages, lack of housing and mental health services.
On Park Hill Golf Course, Denverites have spoken: They're uninterested in lifting a conservation easement in order to build a massive development.
Now City Council will decide whether to rezone the 155-acre former park to make way for the return of golf.
Revare and Lewis said whatever voters are interested in seeing with the site, that's what they will work to achieve.
This story has been updated with comments from Lewis and Revare and the latest unofficial vote results. Denverite reporter Rebecca Tauber contributed reporting.
