More than 70% of early ballots backed Referendum 310, which would keep Denver’s flavored nicotine ban in place

A poster campaigning against Denver’s flavored nicotine ban is taped to the counter at a Sherdan Boulevard convenience store. Oct. 17, 2025.

Updated at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025

Denver voters appeared poised to keep the city’s ban on flavored nicotine products. As of 8:30 p.m., about 71 percent of the roughly 102,000 ballots counted supported the ban.

The Denver City Council approved the ban last year. A majority “yes” on Referendum 310 would preserve that local law and allow the city to begin enforcing it; a “no” vote would repeal it.

The referendum is the latest episode in a decades-long fight over tobacco, vaping and public health—and it became one of the most expensive local campaigns of the year.

In past off-year elections, about 170,000 ballots have been counted, suggesting roughly half of this year’s turnout may already be reflected in the early returns.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg donated roughly $5 million to the pro-ban effort, Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco, accounting for the vast majority of its budget. The city’s Office of the Clerk and Recorder said it’s the largest individual donation ever recorded in a municipal race there. That funding underwrote heavy TV advertising in recent weeks and other campaign activity; proponents argued fruity nicotine flavors are drawing young people into addiction.

Opponents—largely local vape shop owners—warned the ban would cost them livelihoods and push customers to neighboring cities or online retailers. Organized under the name Citizen Power!, they framed their case around adult choice and keeping products away from children. Citizen Power! raised $652,000, a small fraction of the pro-ban cash; its top donor was the Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance, which gave $173,000.

Tobacco giants also contributed early: Altria (Altria Client Services LLC) and PMI (Philip Morris International) together gave $75,000 in the opening months but did not add to that sum in the campaign’s final days.

The dispute began in December, when the City Council voted 11-1 to approve the ban and Mayor Mike Johnston signed it. Opponents then collected nearly 11,000 valid signatures to force the issue onto the ballot.

Denver is the 14th Colorado city to restrict flavored tobacco sales, joining Aspen, Boulder, Breckenridge, Carbondale, Dillon, Eagle, Edgewater, Frisco, Glenwood Springs, Golden, Keystone, Silverthorne and Snowmass Village.

Across the country, nearly 400 municipalities and six states limit the sale of flavored tobacco products, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

This article was adapted from an original report published on denverite.com. All rights belong to the original publisher.