“To be clear, my campaign, like any other, strictly adhered to all campaign finance laws.  The media failed to clearly state this fact.”

Idris Keith is a resident of Aurora Colorado. He ran as a candidate for Senate District 28 in June 2024. A dependable civic and community organizer, he works as a business attorney. His wife and two children have continued tremendously supporting his work in the community.

Afrik Digest caught up with him to know how he is holding up months after the election.

Afrik Digest:  You ran for the Colorado State Senate in District 28 and lost in the June 25, Democratic Primary.  It has been a couple of months since the Primary Election.  Have you moved on from the fallout?

Idris Keith: I have moved on, but have been disturbed by ongoing articles mentioning the campaign. I read an article in a news outlet that mentioned that my then-opponent narrowly defeated me in the Primary.  The article said that I was the beneficiary of tremendous sums of “dark money” or independent expenditures.  The article further noted that I was contacted, but refused to comment on the story.  This was false as no one attempted to reach out to me for that story.  I contacted the media outlet for an opportunity to respond to that story and previous stories and the same was denied.

Afrik Digest: Given the significant focus on independent expenditures during your campaign, how do you distinguish between legitimate campaign contributions and what you consider “dark money”?

Idris Keith: Let me first explain why I ran.  I envisioned an Aurora and a Senate District 28 where local jobs were enough to enable parents to enjoy their families, where safe streets permitted kids to play freely, and where schools were staffed with dedicated, well-paid teachers.  That is the Aurora that I envisioned.  My experience in job creation and common-sense leadership were well-suited to deliver on this vision.

Instead of litigating the campaign on the issues, I was bombarded with questions about independent expenditures and greeted with shock that I would dare run against the establishment. Independent expenditures are part of nearly every political campaign, yet my campaign faced intense public scrutiny.  Independent expenditures which are sometimes called “dark money” refers to political spending by organizations or individuals that do not directly go to political candidates but instead fund activities on the candidate’s behalf. According to Colorado, candidates and campaigns cannot interact with funders of dark money.

Afrik Digest: You mentioned facing intense scrutiny from the media regarding independent expenditures.  Do you believe this scrutiny was fair and balanced, or do you feel that the media had a preconceived notion about your candidacy?

Idris Keith: In early June, a fringe media outlet published a defamatory piece, and the former state party chair, knowing that the piece was rife with inaccuracies, nevertheless published the article on social media.  The article accused me of being a shill for the Republican Party, misrepresented the political offices for which I ran as well as my motives for running, and was insulting in tone; at one point comparing my run to “smoking blunts.”

Afterward, the more established media began calling. Every reporter asked about independent expenditures. One reporter said that the opposition was good and asked why anyone would try to defeat him. One article was entitled, “(Opponent) Fighting Off Dark Money.” And yet another article was entitled, “Someone Really Wants This Aurora Lawmaker Defeated.”  To be clear, my campaign, like any other, strictly adhered to all campaign finance laws.  The media failed to clearly state this fact. Late in the campaign, an individual said he read about my having received $300,000. This, of course, was false, and the individual, like many other readers, was badly misinformed.

When reporters called, I reiterated my plan for our seniors, improving schools, creating jobs, etc.  There was no interest in my platform and my thoughts were rarely reported.  Instead, reporters kept circulating misleading stories, irrespective of the facts.  Independent spending displayed a picture of me with my kids (i.e., throwing a football, playing in the park, etc.).

Alternatively, the opposition’s independent spending misrepresented my positions on women’s health, attacked my supporters, and worse.  While canvassing, a constituent said that he would not vote for me and I asked why.  The constituent opposed my position on “repeat offenders.”  I asked, “[W]hat is my position[?]”.  The constituent responded that I would put repeat offenders in prison for life and represented that my opponent mailed him material to that effect.  I explained the dishonest nature of the piece and earned a vote.  Unfortunately, I could not rebut every lie uttered by the opposition.

Clearly, my opponent benefited from “dark money” during the campaign and for nearly a decade prior and so did the former party chair, with whom he lives.  The media did not subject them to similar scrutiny and this was a disservice to the voters.  A free, fair, and impartial press is critical to the success of the Republic as are Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, and Freedom of Assembly. For this reason, they are all included in the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Of note, the freedom must be responsibly exercised in good faith and with impartiality.

Afrik Digest: How did the establishment’s support for your opponent influence the campaign dynamics?  Did you feel that their backing gave them an unfair advantage?

Idris Keith: The Establishment supported my opponent which was not uncommon. Unfortunately, neither my opponent nor the establishment could provide a clear basis for my opponent’s run besides his being term-limited in the House of Representatives.  In nearly 10 years at the Capitol, the people of House District 36 could not articulate how his policies improved their lives.

The Establishment erred when, late in the campaign, the Colorado Secretary of State (the person who certifies the votes) headlined a fundraiser for my opponent in a competitive primary where there was no incumbent.  Think about that, the person who certifies the vote helped one candidate raise funds against another candidate.

Afrik Digest: Despite the challenges posed by independent expenditures and media scrutiny, what were your key strategies for reaching voters and communicating your message?

Idris Keith: The people of House District 36 and Senate District 28 are disproportionately impacted by unemployment, understaffed and underpaid teachers, and rising prices at the grocery store and the gas station.  From the beginning, I advanced my theory of job creation, promoting home ownership, and creating generational wealth.  As noted, the press refused to report my plans for improving the lives of others but instead focused on independent expenditures. The message was conveyed by canvassing, phone banking, and direct mailers.

Afrik Digest: You mentioned feeling unsupported by the Democratic Party.  How do you believe this lack of support impacted your campaign, and what steps can be taken to strengthen party unity in future elections?

Idris Keith: The state and county Democratic Parties offered a great deal of support to the opposition.  And yet, with all the institutional support, the opposition only won by a few hundred votes.  Therefore, I do not believe the lack of support significantly impacted the outcome.  However, the inability to be afforded the same opportunities as the opposition and the unwillingness of the media to report the facts were critical. The state and county parties must begin respecting its membership. Through the years, I canvassed thousands of doors on behalf of Democratic candidates and yet there was little, to no, goodwill established as the Party refused to permit the race to be decided on the merits of each candidate.

Afrik Digest: How did you address the spread of falsehoods and misinformation about your candidacy?  Were you able to effectively counter these claims?

Idris Keith: As discussed earlier, I refuted false information that was brought to my attention, but I could not correct every lie uttered by the opposition.  And the media did little to staunch the flow of misinformation.

Afrik Digest: Campaign Finance Laws – You emphasized that your campaign strictly adhered to all campaign finance laws.  How can voters be assured that candidates are complying with these laws and that the system is transparent?

Idris Keith: I was the only candidate to accept voluntary spending limits because of my concern about money in politics. My opponent could have joined me in accepting voluntary spending limits, but he did not. Ultimately, each candidate is driven by his/her own set of values. I can only control my conduct. I cannot control the conduct of others.

Afrik Digest: Future of the Democratic Party – In light of your experiences in this campaign, what do you see as the future of the Democratic Party in Colorado?  What reforms or changes are necessary to ensure success?

Idris Keith: If the Party focuses on the dynastic ambitions of career politicians attempting to consolidate political power, the Party may face difficulties in the years ahead. If however, the Party focuses on the issues and improving the lives of others, the Party will be fine.  It was extremely difficult to communicate my message because of the significant amount of misinformation.  Again, this was a tremendous disservice to the voters.  And, ultimately, it is the people of Aurora who suffer most when politics is more about politicians and less about fixing a broken system.

Moving forward, I invite all voters to demand fairer campaigns that focus on the issues and not on distractions. Our collective voices are important. Together, we can work toward an Aurora that represents and benefits us all.