Dark cash plays big in Denver’s Democratic primary fights
The airwaves over Denver are thick with attack ads, mailers fill mailboxes, and millions in undisclosed cash flood the state’s primaries—all before a single vote is cast. Colorado’s most competitive races aren’t just about policy anymore; they’re about who gets to pull the strings in a legislature already dominated by one party. With over $1.4 million spent before Election Day—and counting—this year’s primaries have become a financial arms race, where hidden donors dictate the narrative and safe blue seats suddenly demand million-dollar defenses.
The Shadow War: Who’s Really Behind the Spending?
Most of the money doesn’t come from candidates themselves but from dark-money groups—committees legally allowed to keep their funders secret. That means voters watching an ad or sorting through a mailer may never know who really benefits from their favorite— or most hated—candidate’s rise.
- Labor unions have poured over $500,000 into self-described progressive candidates, fighting for a more liberal legislature.
- Six allied committees, tied to a single financial powerhouse, have spent nearly twice that—almost $1 million—backing “moderate” Democrats.
- Fair Economy for Coloradans claims it takes zero donations while dropping $500,000 on attack ads.
- One Main Street, a business-friendly juggernaut, refuses to name donors beyond a handful of labor union checks—yet its six PAC allies label their candidates “progressive” while spending millions tearing down rivals.
The Battleground Candidates: From Denver to Thornton
This isn’t just about dollars—it’s about which Democrats survive. Safe seats in deep-blue districts now draw six-figure fights, with PACs pouring cash into races that were once sleepy.
- Rep. Sean Camacho (Denver) and Rep. Jacque Phillips (Thornton)—both moderate incumbents—are being propped up by One Main Street’s network, which paints them as the “true progressives.”
- Attorney Iris Halpern, a progressive challenger, faced ads accusing her of “illegal lobbying”—a claim state officials dismissed weeks ago. Yet the damage lingers in the public mind.
- Colorado Labor Action, funded transparently by the AFL-CIO and teachers’ unions, has countered with its own half-million-dollar blitz, bankrolling Halpern, Chela Garcia Irlando, and other left-leaning contenders.
The result? A Democratic Party at war with itself, where even “safe” races become high-stakes proxy battles for control of the legislature.
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Follow the Money: Who Profits from the Blue Wave?
While some groups open their books, others hide behind shell organizations. But tax filings and investigative reports offer glimpses of the forces shaping Colorado’s political landscape.
The Oil Industry’s Influence
- One Main Street has received $1 million from a group that, in turn, took $2.2 million from Chevron and $1.1 million from an oil-and-gas coalition earlier this year.
- Its leader, Andrew Short, denies any oil industry ties—despite the paper trail.
Other Deep-Pocketed Backers
- Charter schools, real estate agents, and hospitals have funneled $50,000+ into moderate-friendly PACs.
- Kent Thiry, a billionaire former CEO, wrote a $35,000 check to the same pool of candidates.
In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1, these financial battles don’t just pick winners—they decide which version of the party gets to govern.
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The Stakes: A Legislature’s Soul
Colorado’s primaries have always mattered, but this year, they matter more than ever. These races aren’t just local—they’re a referendum on the state’s future direction.
Will labor unions steer Colorado further left? Will business interests rein in progressive policies? Or will a new breed of “moderate” Democrats carve out a middle path?
One thing’s certain: The dark money isn’t stopping. And until transparency laws catch up, voters will keep guessing—who’s really calling the shots?
