While campaign finance is regulated by federal law for candidates in federal races, Colorado law regulates campaign finance for state and local candidates. Federal and state courts have determined that limits on the amount of money that candidates can collect from individuals are a permissible restriction of free speech to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption. Under Amendment 75, candidates in a race may accept contributions from individuals that are five times the rate authorized in the state constitution if at least one candidate in the race:

contributes or loans funds totaling more than $1.0 million to his or her own campaign;

contributes or loans funds totaling more than $1.0 million to a committee to support or oppose

any candidate in the same election; or

coordinates third-party contributions totaling more than $1.0 million to any committee to influence

the candidate’s own election.

Contribution limits. Campaign contribution limits are established in the state constitution and adjusted for inflation every four years. These limits restrict the amount of money a person can donate to a candidate in a specific election cycle, which includes the primary and general elections, as indicated in Table 1 [of the Colorado 2018 Blue Book]. The current limits reflect adjustments made in 2015.

In addition to collecting contributions from others, a candidate may make unlimited contributions from personal funds to his or her own campaign. Further, certain types of committees, including independent expenditure committees, may accept unlimited funds to support the election or defeat of a candidate, as long as they do not coordinate their activities or expenditures with any candidate. Since January 1, 2010, four candidates in statewide races have contributed or loaned over $1.0 million to their own campaigns.