Elliott Wenzler
@elliottwenzler.bsky.social
City hall reporter for @denverpost.com
Big scoop from @coltrain.bsky.social: www.denverpost.com/2026/08/27/f...
Backers set to pull Colorado ballot measure after deal is struck on road funding, source says
Colorado officials will earmark more money for roads in future years and backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to require more road spending will pull back their measure under a deal struck T...
denverpost.com
NEW: Denver Councilwoman Shontel Lewis will run against Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027, according to an affidavit filed with the city yesterday. The decision means she won’t serve another term on the city council. www.denverpost.com/2026/07/17/s...
Denver Councilwoman Shontel Lewis will run against Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027
Shontel Lewis, who was endorsed by the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America when she ran for council, may be hoping to ride the momentum of recent DSA victories in Denver.
denverpost.com
INBOX: DeGette concedes in CD1 primary, congratulating Melat Kiros for her win. "Frankly, this was not the way I would have wanted to end my career in politics, but I'm proud of my accomplishments," she wrote.
Here come the youths. Turnout in Denver/CO-1 is surging. 121k ballots, 26.3% turnout by 1:55pm today. Tops final 2024 turnout. Approaching final 2022 turnout. 25k ballots needed to reach final 2018 turnout of 146k.
Hello! I’m writing a story about the Democratic primary campaigns in Denver, particularly HD6 (Camacho vs. Halpern) and SD34 (Carrera vs. Irlando). Do YOU live in either of those districts, and would you like to talk to me for my story? Reach out! I’m at sklamann@denverpost.com.
I reached out to Justice Dems and learned some key info: 1. This was a poll of 307 likely Democratic voters in CD1. There are 416,000 voters eligible to participate in the primary 2. The margin of error was +/- 6 percentage points. That’s larger than the gap between Kiros/Degette in these results
Justice Democrats@justicedemocrats.com · 3mo ago🚨WE HAVE A NEW POLL IN #CO01🚨 Justice Democrat @melatkirosco.bsky.social is up FIVE POINTS against 30-year incumbent Diana DeGette. DeGette's been in office Melat's whole life & Denverites are ready for bolder leadership unbought by Big Pharma & the real estate lobby. 11 Days. Let's win.
Victor Marx, on his come-from-nowhere Colorado gov campaign: "I have avoided some pitfalls of doing it the old way, but the action I’ve taken has broken records.” @sethklamann.bsky.social interviewed the GOP candidate and dug into his backstory for a new story: www.denverpost.com/2026/06/11/v...
Victor Marx’s atypical campaign for governor — and sometimes-incredible backstory — makes him a force in GOP primary
Victor Marx says it doesn’t matter if reporters believe him and that he’s comfortable with scrutiny of his background, even as it draws incredulity from comedians.
denverpost.com
Denver City Councilwoman Sarah Parady announced this afternoon that she will resign in August due to a chronic health issue that’s “medically not well understood.” // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver Councilwoman Sarah Parady announces she will resign over health concerns
Sarah Parady, who was elected in 2023, serves as one of the council’s at-large members, meaning she represents the entire city rather than a specific district.
denverpost.com
In an interview with Steve Bannon this morning, Peters continued her baseless election conspiracism, suggesting that the New York mayoral election and the Virginia gubernatorial election were suspect and that the “Democrats will cheat.” She said she had been imprisoned for exposing election rigging.
Matt Sebastian@mattsebastian.com · 4mo agoTina Peters was released from a Pueblo prison this morning after a commutation from Gov. Jared Polis ended both her 20-month incarceration and a months-long pressure campaign by President Donald Trump // Story by @sethklamann.bsky.social
An effort to bridge the divide between moderate and liberal Dems in the Colorado legislature has completely fallen apart: coloradosun.com/2026/05/06/c... #copolitics #coleg
Colorado lawmakers reject bill that would have required legislative caucuses to report their donors
A Democrat who attended the Opportunity Caucus’ Vail retreat last year sided with Republicans to kill the measure
coloradosun.com
Really interesting read here from @elliottwenzler.bsky.social on the forming -- and now finalization -- of a group of community advocates who will negotiate the Burnham Yard CBA with the #Broncos, what they're prioritizing and the process from here: www.denverpost.com/2026/05/05/b...
Neighbors of new stadium site prepare to negotiate with Broncos, hoping to preserve ‘la corazón de la ciudad’
Under community benefit agreements, developers take on various projects intended to offset the impact of a development and help the surrounding area. It can take months or years to finalize a deal.
denverpost.com
The city of Denver's interference (whether intended or not) didn't stop us from publishing this story. Please give it a read: www.denverpost.com/2026/03/11/d...
Denver’s transportation department has lost key employees amid project missteps, controversy
A chart of the department’s “core team” shows five positions, or about 10% of the top leaders, turning over in the past six months.
denverpost.com
Something strange happened before this story was published. An on-record source backed out and asked to be removed -- after being contacted by the director of Denver's transportation dept. We decided to address this in the story, transparently:
NEW: "The Denver department charged with overseeing the city’s roads, infrastructure and waste management has lost key employees in the past six months as its work has come under scrutiny over recent missteps." by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social: www.denverpost.com/2026/03/11/d... via @denverpost.com
Denver’s transportation department has lost key employees amid project missteps, controversy
A chart of the department’s “core team” shows five positions, or about 10% of the top leaders, turning over in the past six months.
denverpost.com
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston signed an executive order today that requires Denver police to intervene and detain ICE agents if they see them using excessive force on demonstrators. It also bans federal agents from using city-owned property for operations // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
New Denver order takes aim at ICE activity — ordering police to protect protesters, possibly by detaining agents
“My first job is to run this city,” Mayor Mike Johnston said. “But in today’s America, that means answering questions from our residents about what happens if ice troops des…
denverpost.com
BREAKING: New restaurant report lays groundwork for Denver tipped-wage change. One councilman is drafting a proposal. #copolitics www.denverpost.com/2026/02/27/d...
New restaurant report lays groundwork for Denver tipped-wage change. One councilman is drafting a proposal.
Councilman Darrell Watson confirmed to The Denver Post that he plans to propose a change to the city’s tipped-wage policy to his fellow council members before the end of March.
denverpost.com
Denver will end its contract with Flock Safety, the controversial provider of a network of license plate-reading cameras, and will instead propose a new deal with competing company Axon, Mayor Mike Johnston tells @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver will end relationship with Flock as mayor announces new provider for license plate cameras
When asked about his views on Flock, Johnston said he had concerns “over the course of the process” of working with the company and that ultimately, they were “not the right fit.”
denverpost.com
Denver is on track to join a growing number of Democrat-led cities that are trying to restrict immigration enforcement operations after the City Council unanimously gave initial approval Monday to a ban on officers wearing masks // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver is poised to pass mask ban for ICE agents, joining other cities in pushing back on enforcement
In a meeting with Denver City Council members last week, Mayor Mike Johnston thanked the bill’s sponsors for their work and said he looked forward to supporting the face coverings ban for officers.…
denverpost.com
One of the densest media-crush moments I’ve witnessed in a while! Broncos president Damani Leech answers questions about the new Broncos stadium at a community event tonight. Look closely to see @denverpost.com reporters @parkerjgabriel.bsky.social and Luca Evans deep in the middle of the chaos.
New today: Lisa Calderón will run against Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027 www.denverpost.com/2026/02/03/l... by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Lisa Calderón will run against Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in 2027
Lisa Calderón, who is the first person besides Johnston to enter the race, placed third in the last mayoral election, narrowly missing the final runoff.
denverpost.com
How a Denver sportswriter found himself killed off by AI slop
An apparent AI-generated Facebook post claimed a Broncos reporter died. He doesn’t understand why.
“For that to happen to me was just really weird,” he mused. “Very, very weird.”
denverpost.com
The Denver City Council is considering a new policy that would ban law enforcement officers — including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents — from covering their faces during arrest and detention operations // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver considers ban on face coverings for ICE agents in council proposal
“Federal law enforcement agents operating in Denver have increasingly worn opaque face coverings that obscure identity while conducting arrests and detentions,” according to a council slide deck.…
denverpost.com
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s office is preparing a bid to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention, according to a letter from Colorado’s Democratic members of Congress provided to @denverpost.com // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver making bid to host 2028 Democratic National Convention
If Denver is successful in its bid, it could mean a major economic boost for a city still struggling to rebuild its downtown after the COVID-19 pandemic and years of construction on 16th Street.
denverpost.com
The Denver City Council rejected a contract with Colorado-based airline Key Lime Air on Monday over the company’s work helping carry out President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation efforts // Story by @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Denver council rejects city contract with Key Lime Air over role in ICE detainee flights
The company will still be able to fly in and out of Centennial Airport, however, where its charter operations won’t be affected by the vote.
denverpost.com
Shoutout to @elliottwenzler.bsky.social for getting "raccooncidents" in the @denverpost.com www.denverpost.com/2025/12/02/d...
Raccoons, Denver’s twilight tormenters, can cause chaos for koi and pose danger for dogs
“It was like the creature in ‘Alien.’ It just latched onto her and wouldn’t let go,” a Denver resident said of a raccoon encounter while walking his dog, Naima.
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is extending the city's contract with Flock, a company that installs AI-powered license-plate readers, without City Council approval. #denver @denverpost.com www.denverpost.com/2025/10/22/d...
Mayor extends Denver’s contract with Flock license-plate readers without council approval
In May, the council unanimously voted against a contract to extend the system over concerns that the technology is creating a surveillance network ripe for abuse.
denverpost.com
Colorado’s largest hospital had to pause surgeries for a week following a complaint. Here’s what health inspectors saw.
Colorado’s largest hospital had to pause surgeries for a week following a complaint. Here’s what health inspectors saw.
State inspectors declared an "immediate jeopardy" after finding hundreds of dirty surgical trays at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital.
coloradosun.com
New: Billionaire Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to help save Denver's flavored tobacco ban in election www.denverpost.com/2025/10/08/m... via @elliottwenzler.bsky.social
Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to help save Denver’s flavored tobacco ban in election
During the last campaign finance reports in September, opponents of Denver’s ban had far outraised supporters. Bloomberg’s donation significantly shifts the dynamics of the ballot election.
denverpost.com
Could Denver harness AI to renew trust in government? Mayor Mike Johnston thinks so, but others are skeptical. www.denverpost.com/2025/10/06/d... @denverpost.com #denver
Could Denver harness AI to renew trust in government? Mayor Mike Johnston thinks so, but others are skeptical.
Mayor Mike Johnston and his chief AI and information officer, Suma Nallapati — whose role was just expanded to include an AI focus — are planning to make it a major part of how Denver o…
denverpost.com
Amid conflict, Denver American Indian Commission co-chairs step away from Indigenous Peoples Day event www.denverpost.com/2025/10/02/d...
Amid conflict, Denver American Indian Commission co-chairs step away from Indigenous Peoples Day event
“What we are experiencing is not simple conflict — it is manipulation, defiance and harmful behavior that has created an unsafe and unsustainable environment,” the letter says.
denverpost.com