Wealthy people and political groups embraced a more secretive way to influence Denver’s elections in 2019, spending more than $1 million through nonprofits that provide minimal information about their donors. The groups had optimistic names such as Rise Up Denver, Committee for a Great Denver, Colorado’s Best People and A Better Denver for All of Us. They were funded by some of the most powerful interests in the city, and more than $740,000 of the money supported Mayor Michael Hancock — about a third the amount of his campaign budget.