Role of Independent Expenditure Committees and Spirit of the West

Independent Expenditure Committees (IECs) are key players in elections, funding advocacy efforts without coordinating with candidates. The Spirit of the West, a Colorado-registered IEC, is dedicated to supporting Jason Mikesell’s 2026 gubernatorial campaign, promoting his conservative yet inclusive vision to represent all Coloradans.

What Are Independent Expenditure Committees?

IECs are entities that spend money on political communications, such as ads, mailers, or digital campaigns, to expressly advocate for or against a candidate. They operate independently of candidates, their campaigns, or political parties, allowing them to raise and spend unlimited funds under specific regulations.

  • Independence: IECs must avoid coordination with candidates or their agents, such as sharing campaign plans or using shared vendors, to maintain their independent status.
  • Disclosure: In Colorado, IECs collecting or spending over $1,000 must register with the Secretary of State within two business days and file disclosure reports detailing contributions and expenditures. Federal rules also require disclaimers on communications stating the payer and lack of candidate authorization.
  • Impact: IECs shape elections through TV, radio, social media, and direct mail campaigns. In Colorado’s 2020 primaries, IECs spent nearly $2 million on state legislative races, highlighting their influence.

The 2010 Speechnow.org v. FEC decision expanded IECs’ capabilities, allowing them to accept unlimited contributions for independent expenditures, leading to the rise of “Super PACs” and similar groups.

The Spirit of the West

The Spirit of the West is a Colorado-registered Independent Expenditure Committee formed to support Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell in his 2026 campaign for Governor. While rooted in conservative values like fiscal responsibility and local control, the Spirit of the West champions Mikesell’s broader appeal to independents and commonsense Coloradans, aiming to unite all 64 counties for a stronger state.

  • Mission: The Spirit of the West seeks to amplify Mikesell’s platform of practical solutions for issues like budget shortfalls, housing, public safety, and rural support, appealing to voters who value leadership over partisanship.
  • Activities: The IEC funds independent communications, such as advertisements, mailers, and digital campaigns, to highlight Mikesell’s experience and vision, without coordinating with his campaign.
  • Compliance: The Spirit of the West adheres to Colorado’s registration and disclosure requirements, ensuring transparency in its funding and expenditures.

Our Commitment

The Spirit of the West operates independently of Jason Mikesell’s campaign, ensuring all communications are not authorized by him or his team. We are committed to promoting his inclusive, commonsense leadership for Colorado, in full compliance with state and federal election laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Spirit of the West, an Independent Expenditure Committee (IEC) supporting Jason Mikesell’s 2026 campaign for Colorado Governor, is dedicated to transparency, compliance, and maintaining strict independence from the candidate’s campaign. Below, we address common questions from donors to clarify how you can support our mission to promote Mikesell’s commonsense leadership for all Coloradans while adhering to Colorado election laws and our policies for all parties involved with the IEC.

How can I support the Spirit of the West?

You can support the Spirit of the West by donating directly through our website or contacting us to learn about other ways to get involved. We operate independently of Mikesell’s campaign, as outlined in our Policy for All Parties Involved with the IEC, which mandates that all fundraising and advocacy efforts—such as donor events, mailers, or digital campaigns—focus solely on our mission without involving the candidate. Your support helps us advocate for Mikesell’s vision for Colorado, focusing on issues like budget management, housing affordability, and rural support, using only publicly available information.

What information do I need to provide when donating?

To comply with Colorado campaign finance laws, we collect the following information, which is reported to the Colorado Secretary of State’s TRACER system:

  • Donations Over $20: Your full name and address.
  • Donations Over $250 (Individuals): Your full name, address, occupation, and employer.
  • Donations Over $250 (Entities): The full name of the entity (or parent corporation, spelling out acronyms), all names under which the entity does business in Colorado, the address of the entity’s home office (or parent corporation’s), and the name and street address in Colorado of the entity’s registered agent.

Please see our Donor Guidance page for more details. Our Policy for All Parties Involved with the IEC ensures that all parties, including volunteers and vendors, comply with these reporting requirements to maintain transparency.

Will my information be shared with Mikesell’s campaign?

No, your information will not be shared with Mikesell’s campaign or any other external parties. The Spirit of the West is committed to protecting your privacy, as detailed in our Privacy Policy. We only share the legally required information with the Colorado Secretary of State for TRACER reporting. Our Policy for All Parties Involved with the IEC prohibits sharing non-public information, such as donor lists, with Mikesell or his campaign, ensuring a strict firewall between the IEC and the candidate.

How does the Spirit of the West ensure independence and compliance with election laws?

We ensure independence and compliance through a combination of strict policies, firewall measures, and legal oversight, as outlined in our Policy for All Parties Involved with the IEC:

  • Independence: All parties involved with the IEC—managers, staff, volunteers, vendors, and consultants—are prohibited from facilitating interactions between Mikesell and potential donors, ensuring no coordination occurs. Advocacy efforts, such as advertisements, are developed using only publicly available information, without input from the campaign.
  • Firewall Measures: We use separate staff, volunteers, and vendors from those working with Mikesell’s campaign, prohibit sharing non-public information (e.g., donor lists, event plans), and document all decision-making processes to demonstrate independence.
  • Compliance: All donations and expenditures are reported through the TRACER system by our attorney, who reviews all activities to ensure adherence to Colorado and federal election laws. We follow the Colorado Secretary of State’s rules on IEC independence and federal guidelines on coordination, ensuring no material involvement by the candidate in our activities.

These measures allow us to support Mikesell’s vision for Colorado while maintaining legal independence and transparency.

How can I contact Spirit of the West?

If you have additional questions about supporting the Spirit of the West or our operations, please contact us. We’re here to help you contribute to Jason Mikesell’s vision for a united Colorado while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws.