Where candidates for Denver mayor stand on education issues: an election guide

An election judge sets out voting stickers on a table.
Denver voters will choose among 17 candidates for mayor on April 4. (RJ Sangosti / The Denver Post)

Seventeen candidates are running for mayor of Denver during a time when the city’s schools face challenges ranging from declining enrollment that’s led to school closures to rising youth violence that’s prompted discussion of the role police should play in schools.

The Denver mayor plays no formal role in running the school system, but that hasn’t stopped some candidates from suggesting that person should have a louder voice and even appoint members to the school board. 

Internal divisions on the school board have played out in public and led some critics to say the board isn’t focused on the needs of students. Other candidates say it’s important to respect the authority of the independently elected school board. 

We asked all the candidates what they see as the role of the mayor in Denver Public Schools, how they would address an affordable housing crisis that’s pushing teachers and families out of the city, and how they would address gun violence that’s showing up at the schoolhouse door

The election is April 4. If no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff election on June 6.

Ten of the 17 candidates responded. Here, in their own words, is what they said.

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Scores fell for both boys and girls, but girls’ scores fell more. The reasons why are not entirely clear.

There are 4 seats on the 7-member board that are up for election Nov. 4.

States had already finalized their nominations when the Trump administration announced an end to the program as part of its campaign to return education to the states.

The Protect Colorado’s Future coalition is made up of 13 liberal advocacy groups. They hope to get a measure on the 2026 ballot to change tax policy and raise money for schools and other services.

The new state requirements come as the Trump administration is pulling back federal support for such students.

Eric Adams and Zohran Mamdani both visited schools in Queens to kick off the year.