2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election ← 2018
November 7, 2023 (first round)
2027 →
Candidate Heather Graham Nick Gradisar Chris Nicoll First round 6,073 5,604 3,553 Runoff 15,632 9,427 Eliminated Candidate Randy Thurston Dennis Flores Regina Maestri First round 3,290 3,109 1,950 Runoff Eliminated Eliminated Eliminated Candidate Larry Atencio First round 1,933 Runoff Eliminated
The2023–24 Pueblo mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor ofPueblo, Colorado . IncumbentDemocratic 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, arunoff election was held on January 23, 2024.[ 1] [ 2]
A group collected signatures for a ballot initiative to eliminate the position of mayor and replace it with an unelectedcity manager . If it had passed, the 2023 mayoral election would have been canceled. Pueblo previously used thecouncil-manager system for nearly a century before switching to amayor-council system in 2017.[ 3] [ 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]
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 [ edit ] Thomas Martinez, retired steel worker (Party affiliation: Democratic)[ 2] Samuel Hernandez, food truck business owner (Party affiliation: Republican)(ran for city council) [ 15] Mark Aliff, former city councilor(successfully ran for an at-large city council seat) [ 16] Jeff Chostner, district attorney for the10th 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] Nick Gradisar (D)
Organizations
Pueblo Firefighters Union[ 8] 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
Endorsements inbold 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
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
^ "Pueblo 2023 Election Day live coverage and results" .The Pueblo Chieftain . RetrievedNovember 10, 2023 .^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. RetrievedSeptember 5, 2023 . ^ "Anti-mayor petition fails to collect enough signatures by Monday deadline" . January 25, 2023.^ "Anti-mayor petitioners vow lawsuit, city attorney to retire after organizers misled on signature requirement" .^ "Heather Graham to be the next mayor of Pueblo, according to unofficial results" .KOAA News 5 . January 24, 2024. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2024 .^ 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. RetrievedJuly 11, 2023 . ^a b c d e f Wilson, Sara (October 1, 2023)."Pueblo mayor race" .Colorado Newsline . RetrievedOctober 31, 2023 . ^a b c "Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar formally announces reelection bid" .^ Bartolo, James (March 30, 2023)."Pueblo City Councilman Dennis Flores announces candidacy for mayor" .The Pueblo Chieftain . RetrievedMarch 30, 2023 . ^ "City council president Heather Graham announces bid for Pueblo mayor" .^ 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. RetrievedAugust 8, 2023 . ^ "Former Pueblo City Council president launches 2023 bid for mayor" .^ "Former city councilor Randy Thurston running for Pueblo mayor again" .^ "Pueblo livestreamer announces candidacy for mayor while smoking blunt on YouTube show" .^ 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. RetrievedJuly 13, 2023 . ^a b c d e "Who is running for Pueblo mayor in 2023? Here's what we know" . January 30, 2023.^ "Pueblo results" .The Pueblo Chieftain . RetrievedNovember 10, 2023 .^a b c d e Winfrey, Anna (December 12, 2023)."Pueblo Mayor Nick Gradisar snags endorsements from top Colorado Democrats" .The Pueblo Chieftain . RetrievedJanuary 2, 2024 . ^ "Election Results | Pueblo, CO - Official Website" .www.pueblo.us . RetrievedJanuary 24, 2024 .Official campaign websites
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