Messenger: Leading Colorado Forward

Candidate: Suzanne Staiert

Contest: Senate District 27

Affiliation: R

Date delivered: Sept. 9, 2020

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Message type: mailer

Message tone: negative

About the message:

This mailer from a Democratic super PAC says Republican state Senate candidate Suzanne Staiert defended a "baseless lawsuit" that cost taxpayers $500,000. Staiert was deputy for Secretary of State Gessler when he was found in violation of state ethics laws for inappropriate spending. Gessler unsuccessfully appealed the case, which cost taxpayers at least $500,000 although his office disposed of some records of the costs.

Staiert faces Democrat Chris Kolker in the Arapahoe County seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Jack Tate. The district is considered to lean Democratic.

About the messenger:

Leading Colorado Forward is a state super PAC working to elect Democrats to the state Senate.

The messenger's money:

The group's donors include national nonprofit America Votes, New Belgium Brewery founder Kimberly Jordan, Noble Energy, Extraction Oil& Gas, Unitedhealth Group PAC and a range of other businesses and individuals.