Boulder’s 2025 City Council race takes shape as all four incumbents plan to run again

The 2025 City of Boulder election is shaping up to be a referendum on the current council majority. 

All four incumbents whose terms are expiring — Matt Benjamin, Nicole Speer, Mark Wallach and Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts — have confirmed plans to run for reelection, against a field of likely several challengers. Voters will elect four candidates on Nov. 4, 2025. 

The council race is expected to be the most watched item on the city ballot, especially in the wake of the Pearl Street attack, which has cast a rare spotlight on hate speech and tensions within council chambers. The next mayoral election is not until 2026, and no resident-led initiatives will appear on the ballot this year. Such measures often play a key role in elections by forcing candidates to take positions on divisive issues of the day. 

At least three potential challengers are planning to attend the Raucous Caucus on June 13. The event, hosted by Boulder Progressives, serves as an informal kickoff to the election season and offers a preview of the issues shaping the race. All four incumbents have also registered to attend, making it the first public event where the full field of known and potential candidates may appear together. It’s also an early opportunity for candidates to share and test parts of their platform.

Related: Boulder City Council Vote Tracker 

Candidates are expected to begin campaigning in earnest by late August, when petitions to run for council are due and candidates must form committees to raise and spend money. The first campaign finance reports are due Sept. 23, providing an early metric of a candidate’s support.

The field of challengers is beginning to take shape.

Jennifer Robins, a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and a telecommunications consultant, has announced her candidacy and launched a campaign website. So far, she appears to be running on broad themes such as “good governance” and “delivering essential services effectively and equitably,” as well as emphasizing environmental resilience and action on wildfire mitigation. 

Another likely candidate is Rachel Isaacson, director of regeneration at Woven Web, an organization focused on building community resilience in Boulder, according to its website. Isaacson served as treasurer for 2023 council candidate Aaron Gabriel Neyer and previously worked in marketing for an Ohio-based nonprofit that researches soil health and regenerative agriculture.

Also planning to attend the Raucous Caucus is Rob Kaplan, a former captain with the Boulder Rural Fire Department, which serves unincorporated areas of the county. Kaplan was appointed to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board earlier this year.

While no citizen-led initiatives will appear on this year’s ballot, Boulder City Council is considering referring three measures to voters. One would extend an existing sales tax, another would create a property tax to fund “public realm” projects and a third would give council more control over term limits and eligibility criteria for members of boards and commissions.