The total amount spent by Colorado Voters First, the issue committee that supported Proposition 131, was $18.5 million, according to the group’s final campaign finance report.
That sum, which includes in-kind contributions, represents about $13.36 in spending for each of the 1.38 million votes cast for the measure, which failed by 7 percentage points. The initiative would have changed most of the state’s primaries so candidates from all parties ran against each other, with the top four vote-getters advancing to a ranked choice general election.
Here are some highlights from the committee’s final campaign finance report, revealing fundraising and spending from Oct. 24 through Dec. 5:
Chevron gave another $500,000 to the committee Nov. 6, the day after the election. That brought the oil and gas giant’s total contributions to Colorado Voters First to $1 million. Kent Thiry, the wealthy former CEO of the Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita, gave a total of $6 million directly to Colorado Voters First. That represented 32% of the committee’s total fundraising . He may have given more through Unite America. Thiry cochairs the board of the nonprofit, which doesn’t disclose its donors. Unite America, based in Denver, gave $5.8 million to Colorado Voters First. Colorado Voters First paid Democratic political consultant Jason Bane , who runs the liberal blog Colorado Pols and is cohost of the “Get More Smarter” podcast, was paid $36,750 between Sept. 27 and Nov. 26. The payments were described as being for “outreach consulting.” Bane didn’t respond to a request for comment. John Bailey , a leader of the Colorado Black Round Table and the Black economic Opportunities Council, was paid $24,000 in November by Colorado Voters First for “outreach consulting.” He used his platform to support the measure and tout endorsements from other prominent Black Coloradans. He didn’t respond to an email seeking comment. Pabon Consulting LLC, the firm run by former state Rep. Dan Pabon , a Denver Democrat, was paid $27,000 by Colorado Voters First in November and early December. The payments were listed as being for “outreach consulting.” Pabon didn’t respond to a request for comment. Colorado Voters First paid $12,500 on Election Day to JLH Consulting and Public Affairs, the firm run by Colorado lobbyist Jason Hopfer. Colorado Voters First paid three polling firms in the final weeks of the campaign: The Mellman Group, Keating Research and Public Opinion Strategies.By comparison, Voter Rights Colorado, the group that opposed Proposition 131, spent a total of about $630,000, including the in-kind contributions it received. That represents roughly 40 cents in spending for each of the 1.6 million “no” votes cast on the measure.
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WHAT ELSE WAS IN THE LATEST CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS
Here are the other highlights from the final state campaign finance reports from the 2024 election:
Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, which backed Amendment 79, spent about $9 million, including the in-kind contributions it received. The measure enshrining abortion access in the state constitution passed . Cats Aren’t Trophies spent about $3.7 million, including its in-kind contributions, in its failed attempt to pass Proposition 127, which would have banned the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats . Colorado’s Wildlife Deserve’s Better spent about $2 million to defeat the initiative. Public Schools Strong spent about $5 million to defeat Amendment 80, which would have enshrined the right to school choice in the state constitution. The measure, which failed , was backed by political nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors. All Pets Deserve Vet Care spent about $1.6 million to successfully pass Proposition 129 to expand veterinary care by creating a new veterinary professional associate position in Colorado. The passage came despite $2.5 million in spending against the initiative by the committee Keep Our Pets Safe, including in-kind contributions, opposing the measure.WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK
The Joint Budget Committee is meeting this week as it continues drafting the state’s 2025-26 budget, which takes effect July 1 The Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy and Task Force meets at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Colorado Capitol The House Workplace Harassment Committee meets at 10 a.m. Friday at the Colorado CapitolYOU HEARD IT HERE
“We want to make sure that we have a formal investigation.”
James Coleman, D-Denver, speaking about embattled Democratic state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis
Coleman, speaking on the “Get More Smarter” podcast, downplayed the decision to bar Jaquez Lewis from having state-paid aides, as well as the decision to remove her from committees after repeated complaints from her subordinates.
“It’s not about punitive measures toward the senator,” Coleman said. “It’s about making sure that any potential staff moving forward are being protected while an investigation will be moving forward.”
Coleman also said he will honor any request that an ethics investigation be launched into Jaquez Lewis and that “she too welcomes an investigation through (an) ethics hearing because she wants to be able to share all sides of the story.”
Some other highlights from the interview with Coleman:
Coleman said he doesn’t see his leadership style as being different from outgoing Senate President Steve Fenberg ’s. “I would say my style is more of an autonomous vision style,” he said. “I set the vision for my caucus, I set the vision for our staff, and then I trust them to do the work.” “I do think we need to have reform,” Coleman said of vacancy committees, which are expected to appoint three state senators in January. “There’s got to be a better idea than what we currently have right now.” He said he is working with Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Shad Murib on ideas to change the process for filling seats when state lawmakers resign, are removed from office or die during their term. That being said, Coleman said it’s not a priority for 2025. Coleman said the Senate Democratic caucus’ priorities next year will be affordability, housing, health care access and counteracting the incoming Trump administration. He said he believes the legislature will pass a bill making it easier for unions to require that all employees at a company pay for representation, whether they are part of the union or not. “I believe that we’ll find a solution,” Coleman said “I don’t think everyone is going to agree (with the policy) when it’s all said and done.” A bill seeking to reduce the likelihood of lawsuits against condominium builders is set to return in 2025, Coleman said. The details are still in flux, and Coleman said he hasn’t agreed yet to sign onto the bill — as he did last year. Coleman said he will not work on any bills unless he’s asked to sign onto a measure by a member of his caucus, a major departure from his predecessors that he says is meant to ensure he’s putting his colleagues’ needs first. Previous Senate presidents have championed many issues and were often lead sponsors’ of the chamber’s most contentious bills.Read more on the situation with Jaquez Lewis:
State Sen. Jaquez Lewis removed from committees; Dems plan ethics investigation over treatment of staff— Colorado Public Radio Boulder County Democrats “deeply concerned” about allegations against Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis— Boulder Reporting Lab Colorado Senate President James Rashad Coleman: “I was conditioned for service”— Colorado Politics ?Want to reach Colorado political influencers and support quality local journalism? The Sun can help get your message attention through a sponsorship of The Unaffiliated, the must-read politics and policy newsletter in Colorado. Contact Sylvia Harmon at [email protected] for more information.
THE POLITICAL TICKER
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser pauses during an interview with The Associated on Nov. 21 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)PHIL WEISER
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser may be taking steps to kick off his 2026 gubernatorial bid.
Campaign finance tracker Rob Pyers spotted that someone nabbed the domain name “philweiserforgovernor.com.” Weiser, a Democrat, is widely expected to launch his campaign in the coming weeks.
A Magellan Strategies poll of 630 registered Democratic and unaffiliated voters who are likely to cast ballots in the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary in Colorado found that U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, one of the prospective candidates, is in the lead, with 20% of the vote share.
He is followed by Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold at 16%; former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at 11%; Weiser at 8%; “another candidate” at 8%; and 37% were undecided.
The survey was conducted on behalf of the nonprofit Healthier Colorado from Dec. 4-9. It had a 3.9% margin of error.
COLORADO LEGISLATURE
State Rep. Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, has been appointed House Speaker Pro Tempore by House Speaker Julie McCluskie.
Boesenecker was planning a leadership challenge to Assistant House Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, but dropped that effort. His new role is mostly ceremonial.
“I’m honored to take on the role of speaker pro tempore, and I am excited to serve the chamber in this new capacity,” Boesenecker said in a written statement. “By working together, we will make important progress to protect and build on our ...
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The final spending number for Proposition 131 — and the interesting places the money went )
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