Dark-money push to back moderates in Colorado primaries yields 2 wins in 8
Dark-money groups spent about $2.5 million to back more moderate Democrats in eight Colorado statehouse primaries but won only two races (HD42 and HD19). Losses included HD6 Camacho and the SD34 contest where Garcia Irlando defeated Andrés Carrera, among others. Spending flowed through non-disclosing nonprofits (One Main Street Colorado, Fair Economy for Coloradans, Colorado Affordability Project), while unions via Colorado Labor Action backed candidates like Halpern, Garcia Irlando, Nguyen and Jackson and won those races. The results tilt the Colorado Legislature leftward next year and mark a rebuke of corporate-money influence in primaries.