A Denver ballot measure that would have significantly changed how the city conducted elections and how candidates raised money has been pulled by its backers.

The ballot measure supported by Common Cause Colorado, Colorado Ethics Watch, the League of Women Voters and other advocacy groups would create an $8 million city fund to match small cash contributions during election cycles. It also aimed to limit the amount of campaign contributions for local office, cut out corporate and union donations.

But when a local political consultant David Kenney challenged the ballot language approved by Denver, it signaled to the backers that significant money was lined up to fight the measure in November if it survived the legal challenge, said Elena Nunez, executive director for Common Cause Colorado.

“Once the challenge was filed and realizing there was a well funded opposition lining up against it, we knew we would need significant resources to fight the campaign,” Nunez said. “There was a lot of money out there against it. And we realized it would be difficult to get the resources needed to have the conversation with voters that we wanted to have.”

Kenney’s challenge argued the ballot language’s 30 pages of changes were too broad to fit under the title of the measure. It also stated the title didn’t properly notify voters about what exactly the ballot would do or cost. A judge was set to rule on the challenge this month.

Nunez said given the opposition and an already crowded ballot with issues spanning the state and the national election, it made sense to pull the ballot issue for now. But while this measure was done, she said the efforts to create a transparent and fair election process in Denver would continue.

“The Denver elections that we’ve seen over the last couple of cycles have demonstrated that powerful interests determine who can run and when. We want to create a transparent process,” Nunez said. “Although there won’t be a ballot measure in November, we’re committed to moving this forward and having this conversation so we can have more transparent elections in Denver.”