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Contact: Serena Woods

serena@woods-strategies.com

Initiative 175 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing – public opinion tanks when Coloradans understand the impact to Colorado’s kids, schools, and the most vulnerable

Initiative 175 would divert $540 million from K-12 education, Medicaid, and higher education

Denver, CO – Today, Keep Kids First Colorado released a new poll showing that when Colorado voters know the consequences of Initiative 175, only 34% support it.

Proposed Initiative 175 earmarks funding for highway construction without new revenue, diverting $540 million dollars from Colorado’s general fund and the critical services it funds. The measure would also sweep hundreds of millions of other dollars from critical cash funds, which would likely require backfilling from the general fund. The non-partisan legislative council staff estimates the measure could cause $1-2 billion in impact to the state budget.

Global Strategy Group conducted the poll from April 16-21, 2026, and surveyed 800 likely 2026 voters in Colorado, 400 of whom were asked about Initiative 175. When initially asked about Initiative 175, 60% of Colorado voters said they would vote yes, though support is very soft, with just 17% saying they would definitely vote yes. After understanding that the money to fund highway improvements would come from Medicaid, K-12 education, and higher education, support drops drastically to 34%. In order for this constitutional amendment to become law, more than 55% of Colorado voters would need to vote yes.

“Support for the measure starts off just barely clearing the 55% threshold and is very soft. More importantly, after a single message in opposition, support collapses, meaning that this measure would have a difficult road to passage,” said Andrew Baumann, partner at Global Strategy Group.

The initiative is backed by corporations that stand to benefit financially from more highway construction. According to campaign finance filings, the Colorado Contractors Association and the Colorado Construction Industry Coalition are funding Initiative 175.

• The Colorado Construction Industry Coalition (CIC) members are:
• The Colorado Asphalt Pavement Association
• Colorado Contractors Association
• Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association
• Colorado Stone
• Sand & Gravel Association and
• Portland Cement Association – Rocky Mountain Region

The Colorado Contractors Association board of directors is made up of representatives from:

• United Companies
• Chato’s Concrete, LLC
• American West Construction, LLC
• Harper Brothers Construction
• Spencer Fane LLP
• Castle Rock Construction Co. of Colo, LLC
• Commercial Credit Group, Inc.
• Kraemer North America, LLC
• Flatiron Constructors, Inc.
• Kiewit Infrastructure Co.
• Arch Insurance
• Lobato Construction, LLC
• Brannan Companies
• Native Excavating, Inc.
• Holmes Murphy & Associates and Loveland Barricade, LLC

Initiative 175 is currently collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot. If Initiative 175 were to qualify for the ballot and pass, balancing the budget without major cuts to Medicaid, K-12 education, and higher education would be impossible. These three programs constitute approximately 70% of the state’s general fund budget.

More than 40 organizations and 46 legislators have asked the “Restore our Roads” coalition to withdraw Initiative 175 because of its drastic impact on Colorado’s budget.

More information about Initiative 175 can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

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