Former U.S. Attorney John Walsh has wide lead in Democratic primary for Denver DA

A view of the Republic Plaza building, which houses the Denver district attorney's office, in downtown Denver. (Google Maps)

Democrat John Walsh, who formerly served as the top federal prosecutor in Colorado, is in line to be Denver’s next district attorney after jumping out to a wide lead over his lone opponent in Tuesday’s primary election, according to early results.

With over 62,000 ballots counted as of 8:30 p.m., Walsh led Leora Joseph by over 10,000 votes. The next batch of results was set to be released by the Denver Elections Division at 10 p.m.

The winner of Tuesday’s primary will run unopposed in the November general election for district attorney in the heavily Democratic-leaning 2nd Judicial District, which is coterminous with the city and county of Denver.

Current Denver DA Beth McCann announced last year that she would not seek reelection to a third term. She endorsed Walsh, who also had the support of top Colorado Democrats including U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, local labor unions and several former Obama administration officials.

Walsh served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado under the Obama administration from 2010 to 2016. He briefly sought the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Colorado in 2019, but exited the race when former Gov. Hickenlooper dropped his presidential bid to run for Senate instead. Before and after his Senate candidacy, he was a partner at WilmerHale, the powerful corporate law and lobbying firm, where he chaired the white-collar defense practice.

Joseph was endorsed by Denver’s police union, the conservative editorial board of the Denver Gazette and a list of Democratic state lawmakers that included state Sen. Chris Hansen of Denver and House Speaker Julie McCluskie.

Her career as a prosecutor began in Massachusetts and included two stints as a deputy under Republican former Aurora DA George Brauchler. She also served as chief of staff for former Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, and most recently was the director of the state’s Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health.

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