Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said Referred Question 2R would not pass, conceding in a statement on Saturday morning. The big picture: City voters rejected the mayor's plan to raise millions annually for affordable housing by increasing Denver's sales tax.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has conceded that a ballot measure to raise the city's sales tax to pay for affordable housing will be defeated by voters. Johnston proposed Ballot Issue 2R in July, and Denver City Council approved the measure for the ballot shortly after.

Denver voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have created the largest dedicated sales tax in the city’s history and supercharged Mayor Mike Johnston’s efforts to expand affordable housing.