9News debate hosted by MSU Denver focuses on homelessness, crime and other big challenges awaiting Denver's next mayor.
Alyson McClaran
February 17, 2023
Candidates hoping to lead Colorado’s biggest city took the stage at Metropolitan State University of Denver on Feb. 16 for the first televised debate in Denver’s mayoral election.
The event also offered a real-world learning opportunity for MSU Denver students, who got a behind-the-scenes look at how candidates prepared for the debate and how journalists and broadcasters made it happen.
Denver mayoral candidates raise their hands to answer questions during the election’s first televised debate, hosted by MSU Denver on Feb. 16. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Mayoral candidate Kelly Brough meets MSU Denver students as she arrives in the green room before the start of the debate. Students studying political science, broadcasting and other disciplines got a behind-the-scenes view of the event, moderated and televised by 9News. Photo by Alyson McClaran
MSU Denver students Taylor Lucas, left, and Jasmin Braund, speak with mayoral candidate Ean Thomas Tafoya, center, in the green room before he took his place on the debate stage. Photo by Alyson McClaran
MSU Denver student Sena Bryant speaks with mayoral candidate Leslie Herod before the start of a Feb. 16. debate. Herod was among 13 candidates to participate in the event, broadcast and moderated by 9News and hosted by MSU Denver. Photo by Alyson McClaran
MSU Denver student Taylor Lucas speaks with mayoral candidate Trinidad Rodriquez prior to the start of a 9news televised debate, hosted in the Auraria Campus’ King Center on Feb. 15. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Mayoral candidate Chris Hansen hugs his sons in the green room before taking his place on stage at the King Center on the Auraria Campus. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Audience members clap during a televised mayoral debate, which included 13 candidates who faced questions from 9News journalists. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Mike Johnston, center, was one of 13 candidates to discuss crime, homelessness and other big challenges during a televised debate, moderated by 9News and hosted on the Auraria Campus. Photo by Alyson McClaran
MSU Denver President Janine Davidson speaks to the audience gathered to see candidates face off in the first televised debate in Denver’s 2023 mayoral election. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Kyle Clark, 9NEWS anchor who moderated a Feb. 16 mayoral debate, speaks to the audience before the start of the event, which was hosted by MSU Denver on the Auraria Campus. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Aurelio Martinez, center, answer questions during a Feb. 16 debate held at the King Center on the Auraria Campus. Martinez was one of 13 Denver mayoral candidates to participate. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Deborah Ortega, center, speaks during the 9News debate held on the Auraria Campus on Feb. 13. She was among 13 mayoral hopefuls to participate. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Kwame Spearman, one of 13 candidates who participated in a debate at MSU Denver, answers a question from 9News journalists. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Thirteen candidates who participated in Denver’s Fair Election Fund, the city’s public campaign-financing system, participated in a 9News televised debate, hosted by MSU Denver on the Auraria Campus. Photo by Alyson McClaran
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