Colorado Republican state treasurer candidate Polly Lawrence raises more than $90,000 for quarter
Republican state treasurer candidate Polly Lawrence plans to report raising more than $90,000 for the quarter just ended, her first in the race, her campaign said Friday, more than four times what any of the other Republicans in the crowded primary have so far reported raising in their initial quarters.
Lawrence received donations from 240 contributors, and 94 percent of them are from Colorado, her campaign said. She’ll report having more than $60,000 cash on hand for the quarter, which ended Sept. 30.
“People have opened their homes, their businesses and their wallets to help me bring my message of transparency and accountability to the four corners of Colorado,” Lawrence said in a statement. “Our first quarter in this race has been amazing, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I look forward to my continued travels across Colorado and to meeting many, many more people who are passionate about the future of our state.”
Lawrence, a state representative serving her third term representing parts of Douglas and Teller counties, is one of five GOP candidates for the office held by Republican Walker Stapleton, who faces term limits after next year’s election and is running for governor. (Stapleton, known as a fundraising powerhouse, hauled in about $105,000 in the corresponding quarter when he ran for his first term.)
Reports covering the 3rd Quarter are due to the Colorado secretary of state’s office by Oct. 16. Lawrence’s detailed campaign finance report wasn’t yet available.
Republican candidate Justin Everett, state representative from Littleton, reported raising $20,348 in contributions with $18,306 on hand for the 2nd Quarter ending June 30, and Routt County Treasurer Brita Horn raised $17,655 and had $11,183 remaining for the same period. Neither had filed reports for the most recent quarter by Friday morning.
Two of Lawrence’s primary rivals – state Sen. Kevin Lundberg, a Berthoud Republican, and 14th Judicial District Attorney Brett Barkey – didn’t enter the race until the most recent quarter was underway and haven’t yet reported their campaign finance numbers.
State Rep. Steve Lebsock, a Thornton Democrat, reported raising $14,014 in donations for the and had $7,354 in the bank at the end of the 2nd Quarter. Denver Democrat Bernard Douthit jumped in the race in August. Neither had filed reports for the 3rd Quarter by Friday morning.
Republican Brian Watson, a former legislative candidate, has said he’s considering running for state treasurer.
Lawrence has said her top priorities as state treasurer will be to work to undo policies that encourage state agencies to spend any unspent funds before the end of the fiscal year – the “year-end-spend,” she calls it – and reform Colorado’s Public Employees Retirement Association, known as PERA, which includes the state treasurer on its board. She’s also campaigning on a vow to “lock the revolving door” that lets some state employees game the system when it comes to retirement benefits.
“Polly’s been unstoppable,” her campaign manager, Sara Boyd, said in a statement. “She’s always on the road visiting with Coloradans and listening to their concerns. Watching her connect with people at each of these events, in living rooms and across dinner tables, I am not the least bit surprised by the strength of her fundraising numbers.
“It’s clear that the people she meets appreciate her honesty, candor, independence, and real-world experience. These folks know that Polly isn’t just a candidate, people like that she’s the real deal when they’re visiting together.”

