Today is the deadline to submit finance reports to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the first quarter. According to the Denver Post, topping the fundraising is U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who raised $362,000 in the first quarter of 2016. That gives him a war chest of $1.3 million to fend off liberal Democrat Morgan Carroll, who raised $331,000 and has $641,000 cash on hand. While Coffman may have an edge as an incumbent, remember that Carroll also has some help from her friends at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
In the U.S. Senate campaign, Republicans Jon Keyser and Jack Graham are the only two, so far, to turn in their reports. Graham raised $341,000, which, including his loan to his campaign, gives him $942,000 cash on hand heading into the primary. Robert Blaha raised $100,000 and also loaned himself $1,000,000. He has approximately $642,000 cash on hand. Keyser raised approximately $300,000, loaned himself $100,000, and has $200,000 cash on hand.
While the left was quick to jump on Keyser’s fundraising, remember he has outside money waiting in the wings to depose of embattled U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Let’s take a look at the folks that Michael Bennet will NOT be getting money from:
- Teachers unions because he’s been somewhat in favor of education reform
- Tom Steyer because he supported Keystone Pipeline (all he’ll be missing all those enviro votes, too)
- Jewish community because of his vote for the Iran deal
It’s unclear who is left to fund him. Anyone?
We’ll update the numbers as Kyle Clark does research for us and posts it on Twitter.
UPDATE: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ryan Frazier raised $50,000 and has $190,000 cash on hand after loaning his campaign $113,000.