Top Colorado Democrats clash over provisions in elections measure around recounts, using public funds for ads

Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg rejected a provision requested by Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a fellow Democrat, limiting when candidates can pay for recounts in his measure this year tweaking the state’s election code. 

And in another snub, Fenberg’s measure, introduced Tuesday, would prohibit the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office from using state or federal funds for advertising that features candidates for federal, state or local office. 

The move appears to come in response to controversial television commercials run by Griswold featuring herself and former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams, a Republican running to be Colorado Springs mayor, in the lead-up to the 2022 election. Griswold was running for reelection at the time.