The Colorado Republican State Party is causing many Colorado Republicans to question the leadership’s latest scheme to extort funds from their own party’s presidential candidates – sometimes up to $40,000 – just to appear on the state's primary ballot in 2024.

This controversial fee comes after the party's struggles to raise funds under the Colorado Republican State Party’s new and controversial leadership.

The Colorado Democratic Party, by comparison, raised nearly $408,000 in September, with $370,000 of that coming from a joint fundraising committee with President Joe Biden’s campaign. Much of the joint fundraising money came from out-of-state donors. Californians accounted for 40% of all the money the party raised in September.

While it may not seem out of the ordinary for political parties to require candidates to pay a fee to appear on their primary ballot, this practice has not been seen in Colorado for at least a decade. It seems by many that the GOP is now more interested in lining their own pockets than giving equal opportunity to all candidates.

According to Colorado law, state parties must approve candidates for their presidential primary ballot.

However, the Colorado GOP recently adopted "presidential candidate qualification rules" that require candidates to either pay the exorbitant fee of $40,000 or make a reduced payment of $20,000 and visit the state once. Alternatively, they can also host a fundraiser for the party, but the catch is that it must be held at a time and place chosen by the party and is still nonrefundable.

This blatant attempt at gaining free publicity and followers on social media is just another way for the party to benefit from these exorbitant fees.

When asked about these rules, Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams defended them, claiming they are necessary to ensure "nonserious candidates" do not clutter the primary ballot. But really, it seems like they are just trying to weed out any candidate that may not be able to afford their outrageous fees.

Many within the state Republican party question how this long-discarded practice serves the top priority of the party – to get conservatives elected. In fact, it may discourage those candidates who don’t have the high dollar fees to line the pockets of Dave Williams and other State party officials, according to some.

It's no surprise that the majority of the party's funds raised last month came from these ballot access fees, with the Trump campaign paying $40,000 and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum's campaign paying $20,000. It appears that these fees are simply a way for the party to make up for their own financial struggles.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Democratic Party does not charge candidates a fee for presidential primary ballot access. State party chairman Shad Murib stated that they do not need to "shake people down" for funds and are able to fundraise without such tactics.

It is also worth noting that the last time a political party in Colorado charged presidential candidates for ballot access was in 2012, during the GOP caucus process. It is concerning to see the party resorting to this desperate tactic once again.

While the Colorado GOP spent nearly $19,000 in September, the Colorado Democratic Party raised nearly $408,000, with $370,000 of that coming from a joint fundraising committee with President Joe Biden's campaign.

This shows a stark difference in financial stability and strategy between the two parties.

READ MORE:

• COLORADO GOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE STANDS AT A CROSSROADS

• COLORADO GOP FACES CRITICISM AND SHORTFALL IN RECENT FEC FILINGS

• COLORADO REPUBLICANS FACE CONTROVERSY AS CHAIRMAN DAVE WILLIAMS ATTEMPTS TO BYPASS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

• COLORADO GOP'S SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT TO SILENCE CONSERVATIVE VOTERS AND CRUSH DEMOCRACY

• COLORADO GOP'S BETRAYAL OF CONSERVATIVE VOTERS: A DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO SABOTAGE THEIR OWN CANDIDATES

In addition, the Republican Party has not paid any staff since Chairman Williams took over, despite his previous salary as an aide to a Republican state representative. Whereas, the Democratic Party has invested in voter registration files and has had several city and school board candidates pay for voter file access.

It is clear that the Colorado GOP needs to reevaluate their tactics and priorities.