Week 24: Nontraditional Campaign Fundraising and Outreach

Dear Colorado Voter,

I believe I'm the best candidate for Secretary of State. I'm not necessarily the best-known candidate though. I have worked mostly behind the scenes in the nonpartisan elections and voting space.

If elected, I would be the first CO Secretary of State not beholden to a major party. With a majority of Colorado's electorate registered as unaffiliated, it's time to have a nonpartisan official running our elections. The Forward Party is a political party, but it's about as nonpartisan as a party can be. The Forward Party's policy platform: respect the rule of law, protect democracy, and support better elections. Beyond that, the Forward Party's platform is values-based – the party asks its candidates to be ethical, transparent, accountable, and collaborative; listen to and talk to your constituents; make decisions based on data.

I'm not running a traditional campaign. Perhaps that is a mistake, but I'm living my principles.

I don't hold fundraising events. Every Meet and Greet is free to attend. Just as you should not have to pay to vote, I don't think you should have to pay to meet a candidate. I post events on my website so you can meet me. (If it's a big public event, call or text me at 720 767 7310 so we can meet up.)

Once a person contributes to my campaign, I don't ask that person for more money – unless the donor offered future financial help with the first donation.

Statewide candidates are expected to spend hours every day on "call time" "dialing for dollars." That's not me. To nudge me and my campaign team to ask people for financial contributions, I did create two modest fundraising goals in conjunction with Colorado becoming the 38th state on 8/1/1876:

• 81 contributions of $8.01 from new donors by 8/1/2026

• 38 contributions of $38 by 8/1/2026

Click Donate below to help!

Campaigns do have expenses! The website, yard signs, travel and lodging are my biggest expenses. Campaigns are also judged by the amount of financial support and the number of donors so all donations, small and large, are appreciated.

I also have a nontraditional communication plan. We haven't done any blast texting. We don't put people on the weekly email list just because they make an online contribution. When the campaign thanks the donor, we certainly encourage the donor to sign up for the weekly email, but it's entirely up to the donor.

With enthusiasm and purpose,

Celeste