By Rocky Mountain Voice
Jena Griswold just can’t seem to catch a break.
After the Republican Party tattled on the secretary of state, detailing disclosure of election system passwords for months on her own website and up to within days of the general election, and after the Colorado Libertarian Party sued her for the disclosure, she has had a rough go at potentially attempting to earn her party’s nomination for governor by first announcing her candidacy as a Democrat.
The latest in a winter of missteps for the secretary of state is a campaign finance complaint claiming Griswold has violated her own department’s rules for campaign announcements.
The complaint, detailed in a Colorado Politics report, was filed Jan. 14 by The Public Trust Institute, represented by Suzanne Taheri of West Group Law, the Colorado Politics report notes. Taheri formerly served as deputy secretary under Republican Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who some Republicans previously criticized for infamously appearing in an election commercial with Griswold.
Griswold is alleged to have “expended funds on a gubernatorial campaign and had a website dedicated to a gubernatorial run, but has not registered a committee or filed a candidate affidavit for governor,” the complaint alleges, according to Colorado Politics.
On Dec. 20, 2024, 9News questioned in a report the purpose of a “Jena for Governor” website they claim was active and then disabled. That report included Griswold’s brother, Chris, claiming it was “definitely not a domain that I set up.” He later admitted to purchasing the domain.
An Internet search for jenaforgovernor.com results in arrival at a blank landing page. Her jenaforcolorado.com page used during her elections as secretary of state remains active.
The Colorado Politics report indicates Chris Griswold called the complaint “baseless”. He told Colorado Politics, Griswold has not decided upon a run for governor in 2026. She is term-limited for secretary of state. Attorney General Phil Weiser has announced as a Democrat.
Theoretically, Griswold would have “purchased” the website when or before 9News discovered it, effectively becoming an unclaimed campaign expense. Certain campaign activities require filings within 10 days, a point state Rep. Scott Bottoms made when he verbally announced his candidacy as a Republican to his church on Sunday, saying “I am going to run for governor.”
Additionally the complaint claims Griswold “failed to submit a candidate affidavit for governor or form a candidate committee as required by the Fair Campaign Practices Act,” Colorado Politics reported.
The complaint could lead to an odd circumstance. Because the complaint concerns Griswold, her office cannot investigate the complaint without conflict. The complaint will be referred to Attorney General Phil Weiser, Colorado Politics reports, but he’s potentially a gubernatorial primary opponent of Griswold, if she declares. Review of the complaint could begin Jan. 29, Colorado Politics reports.