DENVER — The race to become Denver's next mayor is crowded this year, and on Tuesday evening, you got another chance to hear from candidates in a second debate hosted by 9NEWS.
The second, commercial-free, two-hour debate was Tuesday, Mar. 14 at 7 p.m. from McAuliffe International School.
Eleven of the 17 candidates on the ballot for Denver mayor were invited to debate based on numbers from a Survey USA poll of likely Denver voters commissioned by 9NEWS in conjunction with our partners at Colorado Politics, the Denver Gazette, and MSU Denver.
9NEWS selected the three highest-polling candidates, plus any others polling within the margin of error of second place and at above 2%.
Those 11 candidates are Lisa Calderón, Mike Johnston, Kelly Brough, Chris Hansen, Deborah "Debbie" Ortega, Leslie Herod, Al Gardner, Thomas Wolf, Trinidad Rodriguez, Terrance Roberts and Andy Rougeot.
> Watch the full debate below:
9NEWS hosted the first debate on Feb. 16, in partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO), and Fair Elections Fund.
For the first time since 2011, there won't be an incumbent seeking reelection since Mayor Michael Hancock is term-limited after serving three terms. A total of 17 candidates qualified to have their names printed on the ballot.
Among them are two state lawmakers, a veteran city councilor, a former state lawmaker and nonprofit chief, the former longtime head of the city's chamber of commerce, several prominent social justice advocates, and two CEOs who own or co-own homegrown local businesses.
Ballots started going out by mail March 13, and voters have until April 4 to vote.
If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates will compete in a run-off on June 6.
Want to get to know each of the candidates? Check out their bios and answers to big issues here.
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