Michael Hancock

Michael B. Hancock (born July 29, 1969) is an American author and politician who served as the 45th mayor of Denver, Colorado from 2011 to 2023.

During the 1986 Denver Broncos Super Bowl season, while in high school, Hancock performed as the Broncos's mascot "Huddles", making $25 an hour.

Hancock graduated from Denver's Manual High School (1987) and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Hastings College in Nebraska (1991).

He also earned a Masters of Arts degree in public administration management from the University of Colorado Denver.

Hancock started his career in the early 1990s, holding down two jobs at the Denver Housing Authority and the National Civic League — while also pursuing a master's degree.

At the Housing Authority, he designed, implemented, and oversaw the first-ever athletic, cultural and leadership-training programs for 11,000 inner-city kids living in public housing.

Hancock also helped write a state law outlawing drug possession within 100 feet of public housing.

With the National Civic League, Hancock helped communities, nonprofits, and other clients all over the country craft and enact strategic plans to solve economic and budget challenges, increase civic participation and improve governance.

He joined the Metro Denver's Urban League affiliate in 1995 as program director at a time when the economic-empowerment and civil rights organization was struggling — struggling so much that his first paycheck bounced.

Undaunted, Hancock rose through the ranks, developing a strategic plan, overseeing day-to-day operations and leading fundraising efforts.

He became Executive Vice President, interim President, and then President in 1999.

At 29 years old, Hancock was the youngest leader of an Urban League chapter anywhere in the United States.

He developed a talented staff, created a nationally recognized and award-winning job training program, and built private sector partnerships with companies like Qwest, Comcast, and AT&T.

During his tenure on the Denver City Council from July 20, 2003, to July 18, 2011, Hancock served two terms as the body's president, the last ending in 2008.

After almost five years as President of Metro Denver Urban League, Hancock stepped down in 2003 when voters in northeast Denver's 11th district elected him to the Denver City Council.

Hancock and former Colorado State Senator Peter Groff co-wrote the book Standing in the Gap: Leadership for the 21st Century, published in 2004.

His council peers unanimously chose him to serve two terms as President of the Denver City Council from 2006 to 2008.

He presided over the creation of the Denver Pre-School Initiative, strategies to fight foreclosures, as well as the implementation of the largest infrastructure improvement in Denver history.

While on the Denver City Council, Hancock was a leader on neighborhood issues, citywide finances, economic development and children's issues.

He was reelected in 2007.

A member of the Democratic Party, he was in his second term as the Denver City Councilor from the 11th district at the time he was elected to the mayorship.

He was sworn in as Mayor of Denver on July 18, 2011, after defeating Chris Romer in a runoff election on June 7, 2011.

Mayor John Hickenlooper was elected governor of Colorado in the 2010 elections In the May 3, 2011, first primary for Denver mayor, Hancock was among the final two finishers against State Senator Chris Romer.

Romer led the first round with 31,901 votes (28.49%) to Hancock's 30,314 votes (27.04%).

Hancock went on to defeat Romer in the June 7, 2011 Runoff election in a landslide with 70,780 votes (58.08%) to Romer's 51,082 votes (41.92%).

Hancock was inaugurated as the 45th Mayor of Denver on July 18, 2011.

On May 8, 2012, Hancock visited the city of Reykjavík and met the Mayor of Reykjavík, Jón Gnarr, in Höfði.

Hancock was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.

Hancock is married to actress and vocalist Mary Louise Lee.

They have three children.

In April 2021 the couple announced their separation and that they will file for divorce.

Hancock serves as a deacon at the New Hope Baptist Church.

Easily reelected with no significant opposition in 2015, Hancock was reelected to a third and final term in 2019.

He was Denver's second African American mayor after Wellington Webb.

Born at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Hancock moved with his family to Denver as an infant.

He and his twin sister are the youngest of ten children.

According to a DNA analysis performed on his behalf, he descends mainly from enslaved Cameroonians.

Hancock was reelected on May 5, 2015, in a landslide victory with 75,774 votes (80.16%) against Marcus Giavanni, who pulled a second place win with 8,033 votes (8.50%).

There were no mayoral debates in 2015.

Hancock was inaugurated on July 20, 2015, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.