Attorney General Phil Weiser posted February 13—the final day to register for Democratic caucuses—that “we don’t have big billionaires backing our campaign.” Fighting for Colorado, the super PAC supporting his gubernatorial bid, collected $50,000 checks from Goldman Sachs partners and private equity executives. Colorado law caps individual donations at $1,450. Weiser’s claim is technically true for his campaign committee and substantively meaningless for voters who don’t distinguish between campaigns and the super PACs supporting them. Tom Ray runs Buckhorn Capital private equity. Art Reimers retired from Goldman Sachs. Both gave $50,000 to Fighting for Colorado. Blair Richardson, Bow River Capital CEO who donated to Trump’s 2024 campaign, contributed $25,000. Weiser’s campaign attacked Bennet for Richardson’s support. Richardson gave $25,000 to Fighting for Colorado supporting Weiser.
Weiser vowed to sue to restore vehicle regulations EPA says added $2,400 to new cars. The lawsuit would be his 52nd federal action while campaigning on affordability. EPA’s February 12 rescission eliminates $1.3 trillion in regulatory costs through 2055. His ICE complaint system received 180 complaints over six months. Zero prosecutions. “This is a campaign stunt,” said Gladis Ibarra of Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. The office won’t publish the data.
Colorado’s next Parks and Wildlife director brings zero wildlife management experience. Laura Clellan is a retired Army general with a 37-year-old biology degree and an HR career. CPW manages 960 species, 42 state parks, and wolf reintroduction with 11 of 25 wolves dead. Entry-level positions require wildlife degrees plus four years field experience. The director position requires less.
Governor Jared Polis simultaneously pursues banning Coca-Cola from SNAP for health reasons while legislation allows McDonald’s for convenience. Both target identical populations using the same federal dollars. You can’t claim health concerns justify restricting soda while convenience justifies Quarter Pounders.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison got caught on tape promising to help fraudsters who donated to his campaign. Nine days after the meeting, $10,000 arrived. The fraudsters stole $250 million. Colorado lost $300 million in federal childcare funding January 6 because Trump cited Minnesota’s fraud but provided zero evidence Colorado did anything wrong. Judge Vernon Broderick blocked the freeze after DOJ couldn’t provide specifics.
Companies deploying AI achieved 30-70% cost reductions. Consumers pay pre-automation prices. The 55,000 workers eliminated in 2025 weren’t replaced. You pay rates designed for cost structures that no longer exist.
Colorado’s $3 million Gun Violence Office made 45 trips in 2025. Two went outside Denver-Boulder. The director met with grant-funded Colorado Ceasefire three times. She met once with the Coalition including gun dealers. State law requires equal collaboration.
JBS offered Greeley workers 90 cents over two years while the parent earned $63.1 billion in nine months. The 3,800 workers voted 99% to authorize a strike.
Shannon Bird secured CD-8 ballot access. Manny Rutinel raised $2.5 million but hasn’t filed the petition. He depends on March caucuses with no fallback.
Citizens United allows Colorado democratic candidates to receive 557 times more out of state money than the Republicans.
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