As Colorado heads towards its crucial November 5 election, spending on state ballot measures has skyrocketed to over $25 million. This surge in campaign finance is largely driven by significant efforts to overhaul the state’s election system and enshrine abortion access in the state constitution.
Record-Breaking Fundraising
Recent campaign finance reports show that total fundraising has exceeded $31 million, including nonmonetary donations. This encompasses various campaigns advocating for and against more than a dozen state ballot measures.
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Proposition 131, aimed at reforming Colorado’s election system, has emerged as the leader with roughly $12 million raised and $9.1 million spent just weeks before voting concludes.
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The campaign for Amendment 79, which seeks to protect abortion rights, has attracted nearly $6 million in funding.
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In contrast, Amendment 80, which would elevate the right to school choice in the constitution, has seen $1.6 million spent opposing it.
Other significant expenditures include:
- Nearly $2.5 million spent to support the campaign to ban mountain lion and bobcat hunting through Proposition 127, with opponents contributing $1.3 million.
- $1.1 million backing Proposition 129, which would establish new veterinary care providers, alongside $951,086 opposing it.
- $459,000 allocated to support Amendment J, aimed at removing outdated anti-same-sex marriage language from the constitution.
Spotlight on Election Reform
The largest fundraising effort belongs to backers of Proposition 131, which proposes a radical change to Colorado’s primaries. This measure seeks to implement a single initial contest rather than traditional party primaries, followed by ranked-choice voting in the general election. The top four finishers from the primary would then compete in the general election.
This campaign has attracted hefty contributions from a select group of donors, with a reported $10.7 million in official fundraising, excluding over $1.3 million in major contributions revealed last week.
Key Contributors Include:
- Kent Thiry, former CEO of DaVita, who has personally donated over $1.4 million and is a driving force behind the campaign.
- Jeff Chambers and Ross Jones, each contributing $321,685.
- Notable donations from Kimbal Musk, brother of Elon Musk, and Larry Mizel, a significant donor to former President Trump.
Additionally, the group Voters for the American Center, a dark-money organisation based in Washington, D.C., contributed just under $500,000 to the campaign last week.
Opposition Forces
On the other side, the primary opposition group, Voter Rights Colorado, has managed to raise approximately $243,000 and spent $33,222 against Proposition 131. Support for this group includes contributions from various organizations, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and Cobalt Advocates, a Colorado-based abortion rights group.
Noteworthy Donations
Recent fundraising highlights include:
- Kent Thiry donating $50,000 to Amendment J, aimed at repealing Colorado’s same-sex marriage ban.
- $100,000 to Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, supporting Amendment 79.
Conclusion: A Pivotal Election Ahead
With spending on Colorado ballot measures exceeding $25 million, the stakes are incredibly high. The campaigns surrounding Proposition 131 and Amendment 79 have sparked significant public interest and debate.
As the election date approaches, voters will decide on issues that could reshape the state’s electoral landscape and define access to critical reproductive rights. This pivotal moment in Colorado’s political history highlights the evolving dynamics of campaign finance and voter priorities.
