Includes:
- Attorney General
- CU Regent
- District Attorney
- Governor
- Judicial Retention
- Regional Transportation District (RTD)
- Secretary of State
- State Board of Education
- State Representative
- State Senate
- State Treasurer
Step 1: Are you qualified?
Candidates must meet the basic qualifications for office.
Step 2: Campaign finance laws and rules
Candidates are required to understand and comply with the following provisions:
- Colorado Constitution Article XXVIII (Amendment 27)
- Colorado Campaign and Political Finance rules
- Title I, Article 45, C.R.S. (Fair Campaign Practices Act) (PDF)
Step 3: Publicly announce your intent to run for office
Please refer to Campaign Finance Rule 1.18 for a detailed description of what constitutes a public announcement.
Step 4: Register a candidate committee OR are you a standalone candidate?
If you intend to accept contributions, you must register a candidate committee.
If you will not be accepting contributions (only spending your own money) in support of your candidacy you are not required to register a committee and are therefore a standalone candidate.
Step 5: Receive or spend money in support of your candidacy
You become a candidate when you publicly announce your intent to run for office and thereafter receive a contribution or make an expenditure in support of your candidacy.
Unless you are a standalone candidate, you must register a candidate committee before receiving any money.
Step 6: File a candidate affidavit and voluntary spending acceptance, if applicable
Within 10 days of becoming a candidate:
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Complete the Candidate Affidavit form, which must be filed electronically. [Section 2(2), article XXVIII of the Colorado Constitution] [1-45-110(1) C.R.S.] [Campaign Finance Rule 2.3]
The affidavit is an attestation that you are familiar with campaign finance laws and regulations, so be sure to read the laws before submitting.
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If applicable, complete the Voluntary Spending Acceptance section of the candidate affidavit. [Section 4(3) and 9(1)(c), article XXVIII of the Colorado Constitution]
If you choose to accept voluntary spending limits, you must indicate your acceptance on the candidate affidavit at the SAME time as your initial submission of the affidavit.
Step 7: File a personal financial disclosure
Within 10 days of submitting your candidate affidavit:
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Complete the Personal Financial Disclosure Statement (PDF)
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Mail, hand deliver, or email to:
Colorado Secretary of State
Attention: Campaign Finance
1700 Broadway, Suite 550
Denver, CO 80290
cpfhelp@coloradosos.gov
Step 8: File campaign finance disclosure reports
Campaign finance disclosure reports must be filed timely to avoid penalties.
View the filing calendars.