Colorado is preparing to elect the lawmakers who will shape the next chapter of state policy, making 2026 a defining moment for the CPA profession.

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Eighty-three seats are up for election in the Colorado General Assembly: all 65 House seats and 18 of the 35 Senate seats. That means 83% of the General Assembly is on the ballot, making it critical to maintain existing relationships while creating opportunities to build new ones.

That’s exactly why the Colorado CPA-PAC exists. The PAC helps give CPAs a presence as legislative seats change hands, new policymakers arrive at the Capitol and returning lawmakers begin another term.

But the opportunity is much larger than the CPA profession’s current reach.

The Colorado CPA-PAC at Work in 2026

The Colorado CPA-PAC is a nonpartisan political action committee funded through voluntary contributions from individual CPAs. It supports candidates across the political spectrum and helps build relationships with policymakers who make decisions affecting CPAs, businesses, taxpayers and their clients.

So, how does the CPA-PAC decide which candidates to support? Through participating in candidate interviews and ongoing interactions, the CPA-PAC Board evaluates candidates based on their willingness to listen to stakeholder perspectives and consider feedback on issues affecting CPAs and Colorado’s business community. Support isn’t about agreement on every issue; it’s about building relationships with potential policymakers who are open to dialogue.

This election cycle, the CPA-PAC has supported 16 candidates across both parties:

Andy Boesenecker, John Carson, Dana Charles, Lisa Frizell, Ryan Gonzalez, Jill Haffley, William Lindstedt, Janice Marchman, Bob Marshall, Tisha Mauro, Jillaire McMillan, Chris Richardson, Marc Snyder, Rebekah Stewart, Katie Stewart, and Ty Winter.

Why Relationships Matter

Effective advocacy doesn’t begin when a bill is introduced. It begins much earlier, when lawmakers learn who CPAs are, the role they play in Colorado’s economy and communities, and why the profession’s perspective matters on complex policy issues.

We saw the value of legislative relationships during the 2026 session with SB26-076, which modernized Colorado’s pathways to CPA licensure.

Four CPA-PAC-supported lawmakers—William Lindstedt, Lisa Frizell, Chris Richardson and Rebekah Stewart—served as the bill’s bipartisan prime sponsors. The bill went on to receive broad bipartisan support, passing the Senate 33-0 and the House 63-0.

SB26-076 is one example of what established relationships can mean when an issue affecting CPAs reaches the Capitol. But licensure is only one issue.

Future General Assemblies will make decisions involving taxation, regulation, workforce development, artificial intelligence, and policies impacting Colorado’s broader business environment. Those decisions can affect CPAs, their organizations and their clients.

Where Does the CPA Profession Stand?

CPAs aren’t the only ones working to build relationships with Colorado policymakers. Attorneys, healthcare professionals, financial services organizations, construction and engineering interests, businesses, labor organizations and many many others participate in Colorado’s political process and work to build relationships with elected leaders.

Against 83 legislative seats on the ballot, the 16 candidates supported by the CPA-PAC represent roughly 19%. Put another way, the CPA-PAC currently only has the resources to participate in 1 in 5 of this year’s legislative races.  

That gap illustrates the limits of the profession’s current reach and raises an important question:

“What level of presence should the CPA profession have in the conversations shaping Colorado’s future laws?”

The CPA-PAC provides one avenue for individual CPAs to participate voluntarily and add to the presence and engagement with future Colorado policymakers.

The Power of Participation

The relationships built today matter long after Election Day, when lawmakers consider legislation affecting CPAs, their employers, their clients and Colorado’s business environment.

Every dollar counts. With individual contributions capped at $725 per two-year election cycle, no single contribution can build the PAC’s capacity alone. The power comes from CPAs across the profession choosing to participate, with each contribution strengthening the PAC’s collective reach and impact.

NOTE: Contributions to the CPA Political Action Committee are not tax deductible for income tax purposes.  The Colorado CPA Political Action Committee is a separate legal entity from the COCPA, funded solely through voluntary contributions.