Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Candi Crushed: District 9's CdeBaca Loses to Darrell Watson by Over 3,500 Votes (Denver)
Westword ^ | JUNE 7, 2023 | CHRIS PEREZ

Posted on 06/08/2023 7:18:26 AM PDT by real saxophonist

Candi Crushed: District 9's CdeBaca Loses to Darrell Watson by Over 3,500 Votes

CHRIS PEREZ JUNE 7, 2023

District 9 representative Candi CdeBaca has been a controversial figure in Denver politics since she was elected to council in 2019. Courtesy of Candi CdeBaca The biggest surprise of the Denver runoff elections went down in District 9 on Tuesday, June 6, as incumbent councilwoman Candi CdeBaca got walloped by small-business owner Darrell Watson by more than 3,500 votes.

While numbers were still being tallied, Watson was quick to declare victory during his election watch party at Tracks nightclub in RiNo, telling reporters at around 9 p.m. that his campaign felt confident enough to do so on account of his widening lead.

CdeBaca did not concede that night; people from Watson's camp said late Tuesday that her campaign team had not reached out to them to wave the white flag. It wasn't until the final release of election results today, June 7, that the councilwoman offered a statement accepting defeat.

"While the results in my race are not what I hoped for, the goal in this election was to bring more progressive candidates to the table," CdeBaca said, referring to Shontel Lewis, who had the lead in District 8, and Shannon Hoffman, who made the runoff for District 10.

"This was never about 'Candi' — this was about building power for community, to shift the way that our city moves," she continued. "More people are paying attention and getting involved across districts, and those are wins we can build on. I see our work in this election cycle as VERY consequential. We had a net gain in our two progressive votes on council, we defeated a disastrous proposal to develop our last tract of open space in already extremely gentrifying and green space-deprived communities, AND we brought a community candidate within less than 2 percentage points of being in a mayoral runoff."

Speaking to her constituents directly, CdeBaca said she was "grateful" for the community and for "everyone who poured their hearts and souls" into supporting her these past four years.

"We have been building the best world possible with what resources we have, and we have been fighting for what everyone deserves," the councilwoman said. "Our wins happen daily, and no election will ever determine our worth or work ethic. We were serving District 9 before coming into office, and we will continue that work far beyond elected office."

The unapologetic socialist has been a controversial figure in Denver politics since her election to council in June 2019. She quickly gained a reputation for being the sole "no" vote on issues and not cooperating with her fellow councilmembers.

“I don’t vote ‘no’ for fun,” CdeBaca told Denverite in March 2022. “I vote ‘no’ on things we should vote no on, and do it unapologetically.”

The District 9 race was much closer in the initial municipal election on April 4, when CdeBaca led the pack with 44.24 percent of the vote ahead of Watson's 42.93 percent and self-ousted candidate Kwon Atlas's 12.83 percent. District 9 covers most of north Denver and includes City Park West, Five Points, Cole, Globeville and Elyria Swansea, among other neighborhoods.

While voter turnout can often be a scapegoat in runoff results, the June 6 election only saw a 2.42 percent dip in numbers — with 16,538 ballots cast compared to 18,088 in the April election, according to figures released on June 7, when Watson was said to be ahead of CdeBaca by 3,542 votes.

What's even more surprising about the results, though, is the disparity between the vote and the size of CdeBaca's and Watson's social media followings: The councilwoman has over 11,000 followers on Twitter and over 4,000 followers on Instagram; Watson had just over 400 followers on Twitter and fewer than 100 followers on IG as of Wednesday.

CdeBaca and her campaign were supported by the Colorado Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America. Issues near and dear to her heart included affordable housing, creating a "peace force" to take the place of police officers, and a widely ridiculed reparations idea that included taxing white-owned businesses and giving the extra money to Black- and brown-owned businesses

Things got so heated after the reparations idea was floated at a public forum in early May that CdeBaca began getting death threats and hateful messages from people all over the country.

"It's basically flooded [CdeBaca's] social media with a bunch of white nationalists," said a source close to the councilwoman. "This once again shows just how difficult it is to be a progressive woman of color in politics," her camp said in a statement.

CdeBaca was speaking to residents and local leaders at the Greater Metro Denver Ministerial Alliance Forum on May 4 when she brought up the reparations idea. Video of the council rep talking about taxing white-owned businesses was posted on CdeBaca's social media channels and then reshared by Libs of TikTok on Twitter, where it's been watched more than four million times.

In April 2023, CdeBaca was accused of not showing attention to Denver's Black community during the election after she was unable to attend multiple meetings organized by Black leaders. Longtime political consultant John Bailey blasted her for being a "no show" for two runoff candidate forums he hosted with the Black community.

"YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME FOR US - WE WON'T SUPPORT OR VOTE FOR YOU," said Bailey, founder of the Black Cannabis Equity Initiative, in an email sent to CdeBaca and community members.

Bailey said that when CdeBaca was asked to appear at the candidate forums — scheduled for two Saturdays at New Hope Baptist Church — she declined. According to CdeBaca, she couldn't make the meetings because of the short notice.

"[Bailey] reached out to me after dates were scheduled with only a week's notice in the middle of a runoff," she said, adding that there was "no effort to collaborate on a time that works, no courtesy of a request for dates that work."

While there's no doubt that CdeBaca is a polarizing figure, District 9 voters wound up jumping ship to Watson en masse as he pushed for issues like social equity and public safety while keeping a low profile.

"Thank you for entrusting me with the opportunity of serving you on Denver City Council," Watson told supporters at his Tuesday night watch party. "I want to express my gratitude to each of you who believed in our shared vision and joined on this journey. Your dedication, your many prayers and support and hard work made this victory possible tonight."

Darrell Watson crying after declaring victory against Candi CdeBaca.

It was an emotional night for councilman-elect Darrell Watson as he became Denver's first openly queer man to be elected to council. Evan Semón Watson's win over CdeBaca marks a historic moment in Denver politics: The councilman-elect is the first openly queer man elected to council.

"Those queer kids in Denver and the Western Slope and eastern plains who don't believe their voices can be heard, we will say it loud and clear," Watson said. "I'm deeply humbled and honored to stand before you as your newly elected councilmember representing all of the fine District 9."

In her June 7 statement, CdeBaca declared that "I will not stop fighting alongside my community for a city that truly cares for all of its people, because District 9 and Denver are my heart, always."

The soon-to-be-civilian went on to call out her "real opponents" in the Mile High City, whom she describes as "the faceless Denver power brokers and big-money interests."

These groups "spent an unprecedented amount of money to buy back this City Council seat — over $888,000, most of it from dark money independent expenditures spreading disinformation and weaponizing misogyny and racism," CdeBaca charged. "They’ll be expecting a big return on that investment."

The councilwoman concluded, "While the overpowering misinformation and anonymity worked to confuse an exhausted electorate this time, we must be more vigilant than ever and demand transparency and openness from your newly elected officials now that the fox is guarding the henhouse."


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: cdebaca; colorado; commie; denver; election
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last
I'm not in Denver, but it was nice to see this. Especially because it was such a thrashing. Who knows what Darrell will be like, but at least weird name girl won't be there.
1 posted on 06/08/2023 7:18:26 AM PDT by real saxophonist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4152979/posts

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/4152696/posts

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4151206/posts

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4151162/posts

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3821312/posts

2 posted on 06/08/2023 7:22:55 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

I’m guessing they are both democrats so there won’t be any late boxes full of Candi votes founded.


3 posted on 06/08/2023 7:27:37 AM PDT by redangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Cow’s Head??? WTF..


4 posted on 06/08/2023 7:28:39 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Cde ?

Seedy ?

No apostrophe? C’de ?

Seed ?

Kadee ?
Kunde?
Kunta Kinte !


5 posted on 06/08/2023 7:28:58 AM PDT by csvset (tolerance becomes a crime when attached to evil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

So they traded a Socialist for a Queer.


6 posted on 06/08/2023 7:29:41 AM PDT by usafa92 (Donald J. Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States of America!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: redangus

The other person is a gay black man. She loses.


7 posted on 06/08/2023 7:30:22 AM PDT by csvset (tolerance becomes a crime when attached to evil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Urban America remains unlivable and decadent. Decent, rational people do not live there.


8 posted on 06/08/2023 7:31:39 AM PDT by allendale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: usafa92

Yep.


9 posted on 06/08/2023 7:33:16 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

This is the woman who proposed a special tax on white business owners only. Good to say ‘Adios!’.


10 posted on 06/08/2023 7:39:22 AM PDT by Rummyfan (In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized of man.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: usafa92

>>So they traded a Socialist for a Queer.

Technically, they traded a Socialist for a Queer Socialist.


11 posted on 06/08/2023 7:42:37 AM PDT by vikingd00d (chown -R us ~you/base)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist
9-BEA17-D9-E231-4-CAD-A872-91-C3-B0-A3-B8-C6

She knows how you should live your life better than you do - according to her own twisted Marxist ideals.

Good Riddance.

12 posted on 06/08/2023 7:46:43 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (What did Socialists use before Candles?..... Electricity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

All those links in the second post are about that. She’s no stranger to FR.


13 posted on 06/08/2023 7:47:30 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Hope it’s not like elections in Southern California - where packs of ballots are found two weeks after the election in the back of someone’s car, stuck in the machine - or ballots pour in from vote harvesting - all for the Democrat candidate, of course. Republicans wins have been overturned two weeks after the election itself.

Some say vote fraud started here and I don’t doubt it.


14 posted on 06/08/2023 7:48:18 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (What did Socialists use before Candles?..... Electricity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bon of Babble
Here's the guy who beat her:


15 posted on 06/08/2023 7:49:02 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist
"The unapologetic socialist has been a controversial figure in Denver politics since her election to council in June 2019."

8 paragraphs into the article- they mention this about the losing candidate.

16 posted on 06/08/2023 7:52:59 AM PDT by Pajamajan ( PRAY FOR OUR NATION. Never be a peaceful slave in a new Socialist America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist

Hope he’s not as bad or worse than his predecessor.

Is he of the same type: dyed-in-the-wool Marxist?


17 posted on 06/08/2023 7:56:15 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (What did Socialists use before Candles?..... Electricity)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Bon of Babble
Who knows? Apparently the people were fed up with her. Question is, was it because she went too far, or because she didn't go far enough? My tentative guess is the latter.

But she definitely did something to piss off her voters.

18 posted on 06/08/2023 8:01:46 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist
And another question: Will Watson, as a black business owner, continue CdeBaca's cry that white businesses be taxed more?

THAT will define the difference.

19 posted on 06/08/2023 8:11:35 AM PDT by real saxophonist (Hoplophobia will never be in the DSM, because the DSM is written by hoplophobes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: real saxophonist
CdeBaca and her campaign were supported by the Colorado Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America.

The Working Families Party is neither Working nor Families, it is Socialist. In Connecticut, 99% of the Democrats are on the WFP line and if you add them up, the Dem will always win. We need to have a few WFINOs to join the WFP...

DSA? Didn't America's Official Crackpot campaign for you?

20 posted on 06/08/2023 9:13:25 AM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Guns don't kill people, LIBERALS DO!! Support the Second Amendment...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-28 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson