U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman will report that he raised more than half a million dollars in the most recent quarter, while state Sen. Morgan Carroll, his Democratic challenger, raised nearly $400,000, their campaigns said Thursday.

The battle for the nearly evenly split 6th Congressional District is living up to its billing as among the most competitive House races in the country this year.

For the quarter ending June 30, the Aurora Republican brought in $560,819, his campaign said, and has over $1.6 million cash on hand.

The Carroll campaign raised $389,719, a campaign spokeswoman said, and had $886,857 in the bank at the end of June, about half what Coffman will be reporting. More than 98 percent of Carroll’s contributions are from individual donors, and the average contribution is $135, a spokeswoman said.

The quarterly deadline to report totals to the Federal Election Commission is Friday.

“Mike’s impressive fundraising momentum matches the enthusiasm he sees on the campaign trail,” said Coffman spokeswoman Cinamon Watson. “However, we are taking nothing for granted. For the last five years, Nancy Pelosi has spent millions smearing Mike and trying to make people believe he’s something he’s not. This year is no different – Pelosi and her Super PACs have already purchased many millions more in TV time hoping to do the same.”

The Coffman campaign has reserved $1.2 million worth of advertising for the fall campaign, Watson said.

While outside groups on both sides have reserved more than $10 million in ad time for the race, the Carroll campaign has yet to make its buy. Campaign manager Jennifer Donovan said that’ll happen next week.

“Sen. Carroll has been running for Congress for just over a year now and she has raised over $1.3 million from thousands of individual donors,” Donovan said “We are amazed at the overwhelming grassroots support pouring into our campaign from people all over Colorado that are rejecting the hateful rhetoric and dangerous agenda of the Mike Coffman and Donald Trump ticket.”

Neither candidate will be attending their party’s national conventions – the Republican National Convention is next week in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention is the following week in Philadelphia – and are instead staying home to campaign.

“Congressman Coffman will be in the district kicking off precinct walks, touring local businesses, meeting with constituents, hosting his Faith Advisory Council and, of course, studying Spanish,” said Watson.

“Morgan is not going to the DNC,” Donovan emphasized. “Rather, she will be in district campaigning.” She added that the campaign has parties scheduled throughout the district and will be kicking off canvassing efforts.

– ernest@coloradostatesman.com