Messenger: Better Colorado Now

Candidate: Walker Stapleton

Contest: Governor

Affiliation: R

Date delivered: Oct. 18, 2018

Click here for message

Message type: mailer

Message tone: contrast

About the message:

This mailer from Republican super PAC Better Colorado Now contrasts GOP gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton with Democratic opponent Jared Polis.

It says Polis will raise a variety of taxes, but fails to point out that voters must approve any tax increases and have been reluctant to do so in the past. So the premise is misleading. As a congressman, Polis sponsored legislation to repeal the 2017 tax cuts promoted by Republicans. But as governor, such action wouldn't be possible.

The mailer says Stapleton will create more jobs and improve the economy, but doesn't offer many details. The state's unemployment rate is already less than 3 percent.

About the messenger:

Better Colorado Now is an independent expenditure group supporting the Republican Treasurer Walker Stapleton's run for governor. The group may raise and spend unlimited amounts, but is not supposed to coordinate with Stapleton.

Stapleton helped raise money for the group before entering the governor’s race last fall.

The messenger's money:

Nonpfrofit Colorado Taxpayers Advocate Fund gave the group $600,000. Other donors to the group include Greg Engles of Whitewave Foods and Extraction Oil and Gas at $50,000 each; Broncos general manager John Elway at $10,000, St. Louis Cardinals Chairman William Dewitt Jr., Geoffrey Lord of Lord Realty, Liberty Global President/CEO Michael Fries and Liberty Media CEO Gregory Maffei at $25,000 each. Also, $15,000 from real estate mogul Larry Mizel, Elizabeth Anschutz for $10,000 and Stapleton cousin Jeb Bush for $1,000.