Messenger: Teachers for Kennedy

Candidate: Jared Polis

Contest: Governor

Affiliation: D

Date delivered: May 31, 2018

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Message type: mailer

Message tone: negative

About the message: This mailer from Teachers for Kennedy attacks U.S. Rep. Jared Polis for "spending millions to escape his record." It criticizes Polis for supporting private school vouchers, an allegation the Polis campaign disputes. Polis is largely self-funding his campaign, spending more than $7.8 million through May 16.

The mailer makes no mention of former state treasurer Cary Kennedy, whom the super PAC is supporting in the four-way Democratic gubernatorial primary on June 26. It concludes "Colorado deserves a governor who won't waver on progressive values."

About the messenger: Teachers for Kennedy is an independent expenditure committee, the Colorado equivalent of a super PAC that can take unlimited donations and spend unlimited amounts without coordinating with a candidate. It is supporting Democrat Cary Kennedy in the four-way June 26 primary gubernatorial primary.

The messenger's money: Teachers for Kennedy received $619,000 from the NEA Advocacy Fund and another $400,000 came from the Colorado Fund for Children and Public Education, both teachers unions.

The group also received $800,000 came from Women Vote!, a super PAC run by Emily’s List. Colorado donors include Laurie Michaels, of Woody Creek, and Judi Wagner, of Littleton, at $50,000 each. And $228,,000 came from Love Colorado, another state-level independent spending group supporting Democratic women.