Why It Matters
Colorado voters face an unprecedented volume of policy decisions this November, with ballot complexity driven largely by a single conservative nonprofit. The surge in direct democracy initiatives highlights the growing influence of outside spending groups on state governance.
What Happened
The upcoming November election will feature 14 statewide amendments and propositions, matching the record set in 2024. Advance Colorado, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, is responsible for placing five of these measures directly on the ballot. Three additional questions are potentially linked to the group through associates like Steven Ward or committees such as “A Better Colorado.”
Michael Fields, president of Advance Colorado, has led this effort after previously founding “Unite for Colorado” in late 2019. Unite for Colorado supported multiple ballot measures in 2020 and raised $17 million in contributions before facing a campaign finance complaint. The group was initially ordered to disclose donors and pay a $40,000 fine, but the Colorado Supreme Court overturned that decision in June.
Fields transitioned to Advance Colorado at the end of 2020. Publicly available tax returns show the organization’s financial growth: $1 million in contributions in 2021, $1.7 million in 2022, $3 million in 2023, and more than $5.6 million in 2024. The group ostensibly educates citizens on fiscal responsibility, transparency, free enterprise, and public safety.
The Colorado Republican Party has experienced intraparty strife over the past two decades. Democrats reshaped the state while Republicans at the state level dropped out of governance during much of that period. Victor Marx, the current GOP gubernatorial candidate, won his primary race but racked up multiple campaign finance violations. Westword labeled Fields the “Republican ‘Governor’ of Colorado” last year.
Jon Caldara runs the libertarian-leaning Independence Institute, which leveraged the initiative process for decades. Republicans won statewide offices and legislative majorities through the 1990s and 2000s, but the political landscape shifted significantly over the past 15 years as Colorado changed from purple to blue.
By the Numbers
14 — Statewide amendments and propositions on November’s ballot
5 — Ballot measures placed directly by Advance Colorado
$5.6 million+ — Contributions accepted by Advance Colorado in 2024
$40,000 — Initial fine ordered against Unite for Colorado (later overturned)
$17 million — Total contributions raised by Unite for Colorado
Zoom Out
The expansion of ballot initiatives reflects a broader national trend where interest groups bypass legislative processes to place policy questions directly before voters. Colorado’s initiative system, long utilized by organizations like the Independence Institute, has become increasingly dominated by well-funded nonprofits that can raise millions in contributions.
Democrats adopted new rules for such organizations after the Unite for Colorado controversy, but the legal framework still allows substantial outside spending. The pattern mirrors developments in other states where ballot measures have multiplied, increasing voter fatigue and complicating election administration. UPS delivery may be required for Colorado ballots this year due to the volume of materials.
What’s Next
Voters will decide all 14 measures in November. The outcome will signal whether direct democracy initiatives continue to shape Colorado policy or whether legislative and judicial checks begin to curb ballot proliferation. Fields’ organizations have demonstrated sustained capacity to fund and promote multiple measures simultaneously, suggesting this trend may persist beyond 2026.