Union candidates sweep Denver Public School Board races

DENVER (KDVR) — Issues like the Vibrant Denver bond package and the flavored tobacco ban were center stage in Denver Tuesday night, but voters also got a chance to weigh in on the city’s public school board. They made some big changes.

This was the one area where the city’s mayor did not fare well last night. All the candidates he endorsed lost, as the union-backed candidates move forward.

The Denver Classroom Teachers Association, the largest teachers union in Denver, won big last night. All four of the candidates they endorsed for the Denver Public School Board won.

“Knowing that all four of our candidates came through, we are just elated. I mean, we are so excited, not just for our educators but for our students and our families,” said Rob Gould, DCTA President.

All four of the mayor-endorsed candidates lost their races to candidates backed by the union-endorsed candidates. As a result, the Denver Public School Board will look completely different next year. Only one of the three incumbents running to keep their seat, Xóchitl Gaytán, actually won. The union endorsed Gaytán while the other incumbents, Michelle Quattlebaum and Scott Esserman, are currently in last place in their races. Gould said families can expect understanding and compassion from the new members.

“These individuals that they just elected, knowing how they are thoughtful, how they really try to go in and understand from educator’s point of view, from parents point of view, from student’s point of view what is needed, I think you are going to see that these individuals have everybody’s best interest at heart and they have so many different experiences that really lead to that,” said Gould. “They definitely sent a definitive message to the mayor.”

FOX31 reached out to the mayor to get his reaction, with his office stating:

“Mayor Johnston respects the will of the voters and their choices for school board. DPS has the right leadership in place, and there’s more great work to come to ensure Denver students and schools thrive.”

Groups spent millions on school board races across Colorado this election cycle. Three candidates who won after being endorsed by the mayor in 2023 are still on the board until 2027.