Politics |

PHOTOS: Mike Johnston sworn in as 46th Denver mayor

Mayor Michael Johnston, holds his hand up as he takes the oath of office administered by Nicole M. Rodarte, left, second from left, during his inaugurartion ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 2023. With him are his twin sons Seamus, Emmet, both 15, his wife Courtney and daughter Ava, 11, right. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term, 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Former Denver Mayors Wellington Webb, second left and Federico Peña, fourth from left, were in attendance for the the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Also in the photo are Wilma Webb, left, Cindy Peña, Peña’s wife, third from left, and Mayor Johnston's children Ava, 11, and Emmet, 15. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Raquel Garcia sings the National Anthem during inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Mayor Michael Johnston, second from left, puts his hand to his heart during the singing of the National Anthem during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term, 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Rick Williams, Cheyenne and Lakota elder, gives the Blessing Way Forward during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Joanna Rosa-Saenz puts up her hands during the Blessing Way Forward given by Rick Williams, a Cheyenne and Lakota elder, during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Stephen Brackett listens to the Blessing Way Forward given by Rick Williams, a Cheyenne and Lakota elder, during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Imam Abdur-Rahim Ali, with the Northeast Islamic Center, gives one of several invocations during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Newly elected city council member Darrell Watson claps to the audience as he arrives on stage at the start of the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Other council members in the photo are from left to right: Shontel Lewis gives a big smile to the audience as she takes her seat next to council members Shontel Lewis, Flor Alvidrez, Paul Kashmann, Amanda Sawyer and Diana Romero Campbell, right. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The Honorable Nicole M. Rodarte, left, administers the oath of office to newly elected city council members from left to right Diana Romero Campbell, Amanda Sawyer, Paul Kashmann and Flor Alvidrez, right, during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The Honorable Nicole M. Rodarte, left, administers the oath of office to newly elected city council members from left to right Stacie Gilmore, Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, and Sarah Parady, right, during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston became the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

The Honorable Nicole M. Rodarte, left, administers the oath of office to newly elected city council members from left to right Amanda Sandoval, Kevin Flynn, and Jaime Torres, right, during the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, left, and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera, second from left, were in attendance for the the inauguration ceremony for Denver Mayor Michael Johnston at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Also in the photo are Wilma Webb, second from left, and Cindy Velasquez, Pena’s wife, fourth from left. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Newly elected Denver Mayor Michael Johnston gets a hug from the Honorable Nicole M. Rodarte during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Former Denver Mayor says goodbye to his term and announces newly elected Mayor Michael Johnston during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, left, gives a hug to newly elected Mayor Michael Johnston during his inaugurartion ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Newly elected Denver Mayor Michael Johnston speaks with members of the media after his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Mayor Michael Johnston gives his inaugural address after being sworn into office during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. At right are newly elected Denver City Council members. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term, 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Mayor Michael Johnston gives his inaugural address after being sworn into office during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term, 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Newly elected Denver Mayor Michael Johnston, gives a kiss to his daughter Ava, after taking the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. With him are his twin sons Seamus, Emmet, both 15, and his wife Courtney, right. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Newly elected Denver Mayor Michael Johnston speaks with members of the media after his inauguration ceremony at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver on July 17, 2023. Johnston becomes the 46th Mayor of Denver taking office after the three-term and 12-year run by Michael Hancock. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)