About Mayor Mike Johnston

On July 17, 2023, Mayor Mike Johnston was sworn into office as the 46th Mayor for the City and County of Denver. As Mayor, he is committed to working on a myriad of challenges facing our city, business owners, homeowners, families and communities, and transforming Denver into a city that is vibrant, affordable and safe for everyone.

Prior to politics, Mayor Johnston was a teacher in the Mississippi Delta as part of the Teach for America Program. Later, he stepped into the role of principal at three schools in the Denver metro area, one of the schools making history as the first public school in Colorado with 100% of seniors graduating and admitted to four-year colleges. These experiences inspired him to address educational inequities throughout his career.

His career in public service continued in the Colorado Senate, where he represented Northeast Denver from 2009 to 2017. As a State Senator, Mayor Johnston helped pass the READ Act, ensuring every student in Colorado can read at grade level by the time they exit third grade, setting them on a path to success. This work led to the creation of the Early Literacy Grant Program that distributed approximately $16 million to school districts across the state to use in either full-day kindergarten, tutoring services or summer school programs.

While at the State Senate, Mayor Johnston successfully garnered bipartisan support to pass the ASSET bill, Colorado’s version of the DREAM Act. He also tackled important issues like gun safety and championed renewable energy, guiding Colorado toward a more sustainable future.

He is a dedicated public servant, a visionary leader and a compassionate advocate for the people he serves. Under his leadership, Denver will continue to thrive as a vibrant and inclusive city that embraces progress, innovation and opportunity for all. The Mayor profoundly believes the challenges the city faces are solvable, and his administration will set the course to solve them.

The Mayor was born in Colorado, he is fluent in Spanish and actively participates in events and initiatives that promote Denver’s growth and prosperity. He lives in east Denver with his wife Courtney, who is a Chief Deputy District Attorney, and their three kids, Emmet, Seamus and Ava.