Rocky Mountain Values

Justin Lamorte, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Values, was previously the campaign manager for the 2022 reelection campaign of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), a senior advisor for the 2020 U.S. Senate campaign of former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D), and a staffer at both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. ³

Activities

2020 U.S. Senate Elections

Rocky Mountain Values, following its formation in 2019, was involved in supporting former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper’s successful 2020 campaign to unseat then-U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO). ^{4 1} During the election, Rocky Mountain Values released several attack ads targeting Garder while working with Conservation Colorado, which the national League of Conservation Voters described as its “Colorado affiliate.” ⁵

During the 2020 election cycle, Rocky Mountain Values raised $4,050,000 in 2019 and $2,825,245 in 2020, spending all but $48,272 by the end of 2020. ⁶ Most of its spending during that time was characterized in its IRS filings as “advertising and promotion,” with 91.6% of its 2019 spending and 74.6% of its 2020 spending going to those functions. ⁶

After the 2020 elections, Rocky Mountain Values reported only $3,533 in expenses in 2021 and $2,501 in 2022. ⁶ During the fiscal year 2023, the group raised $1,852,728 and spent $1,445,733 ahead of the 2024 election cycle. ⁶

2024 Elections

Rocky Mountain Values was active in the 2024 election cycle during the race for Colorado’s 3^rd Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) had narrowly won reelection in 2022. ^{1 7}

During the 2024 election, following Rep. Boebert moving her candidacy to the state’s 4^th district, the Rocky Mountain Values PAC spent a reported $475,932 supporting Ron Hanks in the Republican primary for the 3rd district, ⁸ whom then lost the primary to Jeff Hurd. Rocky Mountain Values PAC then spent $18,167 unsuccessfully opposing Hurd’s campaign during the general election before he won in November that year. ⁹

The PAC also spent $352,109 during the 2024 election cycle opposing the presidential campaign of then-former president Donald Trump. ⁹

Rocky Mountain Values PAC raised $925,066 during the 2024 election cycle, with roughly $500,000 being donated from advocacy group Sixteen Thirty Fund. ¹⁰ Other major contributions included $112,000 from the Real Leadership for Colorado super PAC associated with 3^rd District Democratic Congressional candidate Adam Frisch, $101,795 from the Rocky Mountain Values 501(c)(4), and $100,000 from the Global Impact Social Welfare Fund. ¹⁰

Coalitions

Rocky Mountain Values has an “Advisory Council” of left-wing organizations including America Votes, COLOR Action Fund, Planned Parenthood of Colorado, Progressnow Colorado, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 105, Sierra Club of Colorado, Conservation Colorado, United New Economy Action, and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. ¹¹

Rocky Mountain Values is a member of the Fair Share America coalition to coordinate left-of-center efforts to raise taxes on corporations and high-income individuals. The coalition was created by the Rockefeller Foundation and is supported by labor unions including the National Education Association (NEA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as well as other left-of-center public policy advocacy groups. ^{12 13}

Leadership

Justin Lamorte, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Values, was previously the campaign manager for the 2022 reelection campaign of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), a senior advisor for the 2020 U.S. Senate campaign of former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D), and a staffer at both the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. ³