Michael Bloomberg Donates $1.5 Million to Help Save Denver's Flavored Tobacco Ban

American billionaire and former New York mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has donated an additional $1.5 million (€1.3 million) to the campaign to maintain the ban on flavored tobacco products in Denver, the capital of the state of Colorado.[1]This contribution brings the total resources of the supporters of the measure to more than four times those of their opponents. This new contribution, revealed in the latest campaign finance report, significantly changes the dynamics of the vote scheduled for November 4, 2025, during which voters will have to decide on referendum 310, which will decide whether or not to maintain this ban adopted by the city council in December 2024.

Strong and diverse support for the fight against flavored tobacco in Denver

A strong advocate for tobacco control and a WHO ambassador, Bloomberg has donated a total of $1.6 billion (€1.37 billion) to global tobacco control, according to Bloomberg Philanthropies. As mayor of New York City, he championed a number of public health initiatives, including banning smoking indoors in workplaces, increasing the cigarette tax, raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco products, and banning flavored e-cigarettes, including menthol.[2]. Globally, Bloomberg Philanthropies was recently named among the champions of the "3 by 35" initiative aimed at pushing countries to increase the real price of tobacco by at least 50%, alcohol and sugary drinks by 2035, thanks to increased taxes.

The "Denver Kids vs. Big Tobacco" campaign, which supports maintaining the ban, has now raised approximately $2 million (€1.7 million) in direct donations and in-kind contributions. The opposing camp, united under the banner "Citizen Power!", has raised nearly $470,000 (€404,000), according to official city data.

Opponents denounce the influence of external funding, even though this is transparent and the tobacco industry also supports campaigns that are favorable to its interests: " It's a David versus Goliath story. While their side spends millions from New York to dictate Denver policy, we believe residents should decide their future. " said Philip Guerin, representing the Rocky Mountain Smoke Free Alliance, a trade association for the vaping industry.

For their part, "yes" supporters emphasize the diversity of their support, made up of individuals, the medical community, and public health organizations, such as the American Lung Association, the Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Children's Hospital Colorado, believing that their goal is to protect young people from nicotine addiction.

" I could share countless examples from my experience as a practicing physician, helping people overcome their addiction to tobacco and nicotine, but also managing the serious health effects of tobacco and nicotine products. " said Dr. Tracy Hofeditz, a local physician who supports the ban.[3]. " This is the main reason why we must find ways to prevent a new generation from developing an addiction to tobacco and nicotine products, so that they will be much healthier in the future. ".

" Nicotine products are a source of dependence and addiction " he added. " The addict eventually needs them, even if they desperately want to quit. This is one of my main missions as a family doctor, and over time, I help people who want to quit using these products, but who have so much difficulty doing so. ".

A local issue with significant impact

The City Council previously tried to pass a measure against flavored tobacco products in 2021, but then-Denver Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed it.

Adopted by the Denver City Council in late 2024, the ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products aimed to curb the appeal of these products among young people. In response, opponents gathered 17,000 signatures to submit a referendum to the public.

A "yes" vote would uphold the measure, while a "no" vote would repeal it. Opponents say the law threatens small businesses, restricts adult freedom of choice, and would deprive the city of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

In addition to Bloomberg, major donors to the ban include the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, with over 351,000 $s (€302,000) and Kaiser Permanente, with 50,000 $s (€43,000). On the other hand, tobacco companies Philip Morris International, Altria, and Swisher International are among the contributors to "Citizen Power!"

According to Jodi Radke of Tobacco Free Kids, a Washington, DC-based organization that supports Denver's flavored tobacco ban, " Our supporters are committed to protecting the health of Denver's children and preventing Big Tobacco from leading them into lifelong nicotine addiction. […] Meanwhile, tobacco giants like Philip Morris International and Altria have joined forces with vape shop owners and other tobacco industry groups to invest heavily in the fight against this vital measure. »[4].

City officials and medical experts said the economic impact of flavored tobacco use in Colorado amounts to $2.2 billion (€1.9 billion) in annual health care costs, $4.4 billion (€3.8 billion) in lost productivity caused by smoking, and $415 million (€357 million) in estimated Medicaid costs, which they described as a tax burden of $772 (€664) per household.

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[1]Elliott Wenzler, Michael Bloomberg gives $1.5 million to help save Denver's flavored tobacco ban in election, The Denver Post, published October 8, 2025, accessed October 9, 2025

[2]John Daley, Mayor Mike (the other one) drops big bucks into Denver's flavored nicotine fight, Denverite, published October 8, 2025, accessed October 9, 2025

[3]Veronica Acosta, Campaign contributions for and against Denver flavored nicotine ban heat up as Election Day approaches, Denver7, published October 9, 2025, accessed the same day

[4]Deborah Smith, Bloomberg wades into Denver's fight over flavored tobacco ban with big-dollar contribution, Colorado Politics, published October 8, 2025, accessed October 9, 2025

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