Note: The above video shows election results before the city council races were called.
DENVER (KDVR) — Change appears to be coming to Aurora’s municipal government, as progressives picked up several city council seats and ousted three conservatives, including one of the most vocal Trump-supporting council members.
Tuesday’s election saw nationwide pull toward Democrats, which have called the night a referendum on Republicans. In local elections as well, liberals saw major gains, according to unofficial results so far.
Aurora has long been led by a conservative-leaning council and has a Republican mayor, but voters in Colorado’s most diverse city, which was thrust under a national spotlight on immigration enforcement, rejected three conservative incumbent council members and elected progressives in their places. Two other progressives, five in total, were also elected.
Community leaders called this change — which now sees a liberal-majority city council — groundbreaking and said it pointed to change coming for the city.
“I’m not surprised at all,” MiDian Shofner, CEO of community group Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership, told FOX31’s Vicente Arenas. “The ground is shaking. When we saw those first results drop, the community spoke, and they spoke loudly. The community is giving us a signal that we are not in this fight alone.”
Among the largest upsets was the race for two at-large seats that represent the whole city, which saw the two incumbents up for re-election lose to progressive newcomers.
One of the incumbents, Danielle Jurinsky, had made a name for herself aligning with President Donald Trump on immigration issues, calling attention to what they had called a takeover of the city by Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Jurinsky and tough-on-immigration Councilman Amsalu Kassaw, a refugee from Ethiopia, both lost their at-large seats to progressives Rob Andrews and Alli Jackson.
Jurinsky, in a message posted on Facebook, conceded the race Wednesday night and thanked supporters:
While last night’s election didn’t go the way we had hoped, I am deeply proud of the work we’ve accomplished together — the initiatives I led and the efforts I was privileged to support. Four years ago, I was told I couldn’t win. But we did. And I have served my hometown and all of you with every ounce of passion, loyalty, and heart that I have.
I have fought valiantly and ferociously these past four years. I’ve met the most incredible people of my life, and it has been the honor of my lifetime to serve you. Now, I plan to rest. And for those who know me — you know I never stay still for long. You never know what may call me back to serve again. I never expected to find myself in politics, but I will always remain ready, listening for the voice of Elijah.”
Jackson, in her own Facebook post, thanked Aurora voters and congratulated the progressive ticket on the across-the-board win:
We were outspent 20 to 1 — but their money didn’t vote. People did. This campaign was powered by volunteers who knocked doors, made calls, and shared hope.
To Aurora’s Black community thank you for your strength and persistence in the fight for justice. Say their names: Elijah McClain, Jor’Dell Richardson, Kylin Lewis, and Rajon Belt-Stubblefield.
This progressive slate Rob Andrews, Gianina Horton, Amy Wiles, Ruben Medina, and I made history together. We stayed united, led with values, and proved that when you organize with heart, people power can beat political machines.”
As well as Andrews and Jackson, two other newcomers join the city council.
Amy Wiles defeated incumbent councilman and police-association-endorsed Steve Sundberg for the Ward 2 seat after running to end false narratives that “not only harms our immigrant and refugee community and erodes their feeling of safety and inclusivity but also limits growth in our city.”
Ward 1 voters also elected newcomer Gianina Horton, who ran on a platform of police accountability and transparency.
Progressive incumbent Ruben Medina retained his Ward 3 seat.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman congratulated the winners in a Facebook post Wednesday night.
“I look forward to working with all of you to make the City of Aurora that best that it can possibly be,” Coffman said.
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