Democrat Yadira Caraveo and Republican Tyler Allcorn raised the most campaign cash this quarter in their quest to represent Colorado’s new congressional district, assigned to the state after population increases tabulated by the 2020 Census.
Caraveo, a state lawmaker and the sole Democrat in the race, topped all candidates with $298,000, while former Green Beret Allcorn came in second with a haul of $306,000 (including a $162,000 loan from himself).
Three other Republicans vying for the right to take on Caraveo raised less money, acccording to figures posted on the Federal Election Commissino website March 31: Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann raised $236,000 (including a $20,000 loan from herself). State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-Weld) reported $124,000 (with no personal loan) and Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine reported $80,000 (with a $50,000 loan from herself).
On Facebook, Kirkmeyer reported her total and wrote, “To those of you who generously contributed – whether monetarily or through the sacrifice of your time by going door to door to get signatures for my campaign – thank you!!”
Commenting on KCOL last week, Saine said campaign cash — and connections — aren’t working so well in GOP races so far, saying her fundraising has been “tremendous” since she won at the GOP assembly and that contributors who made big donations to Colorado Republicans “may be feeling a little buyer’s remorse at this point” because some big-spending primary candidates, like Eli Bremer and Gino Campana, didn’t make the ballot.
“We had a gentleman who had gold-medal Olympians there in his room the night before the assembly,” Saine told host Jimmy Lakey on air, adding that she can win by being the candidate who puts “principles” over party. “We had a lady who had the real Forrest Gump. They based the movie ‘Forrest Gump’ on this gentleman, and he was wearing his medal of honor. And Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan. And another gentleman had Kellyanne Conway, who, you know, is a very engaging speaker as well. And she spoke at a dinner the night before. And despite all those advantages, they still didn’t make the ballot.”
Saine criticized fellow Republicans for advising GOP candidates not to talk about “election integrity,” which she characterized as the “driving issue” of her race so far.
It’s difficult to predict how much the fundraising totals will affect the Republican primary, say experts, in part because it’s not clear which candidates are competing for the same votes. But Kulmann and Kirkmeyer are most likely to be seen as the candidates favored by the GOP establishment in the race and may end up splitting votes.
Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is situated in suburbs north of Denver and is expected to be among the most competitive congressional races in the country in November.
