Democrat James Iacino raised $288,896 in the fourth quarter, his first since joining the primary to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, his campaign said.

The former CEO of the family-owned, Denver-based Seattle Fish Co., one of three Democrats hoping to deny Tipton a sixth term in Congress, took in more than any other Democrat has during an off-year fundraising quarter since the Western Slope-based district was redrawn after the 2010 census, a spokesman for Iacino pointed out.

“Traveling around the district, I am inspired by the warm welcome and support I have received in communities from Pagosa Springs to Delta,” Iacino said in a statement. “This strong start means I will be able to meet with voters across Western and Southern Colorado, and make sure their best interests, not partisan pandering, are represented in Congress.”

He’s the first congressional candidate in the state to announce a fundraising total for the quarter that ended Dec. 31. Detailed reports are due to the Federal Election Commission by Jan. 31.

Colorado residents account for 88% of the more than 300 donors who gave to the first-time candidate, who isn’t taking contributions from corporate political action committees, a spokesman said. Iacino’s cash on hand total wasn’t yet available, campaign manager Ryan Mulcahy told Colorado Politics.

“We’re still getting James out there and introducing him to people in the district,” Mulcahy said. “We definitely have a support base in the district. He’s meeting voters for the first time and still earning their trust. People are really looking for someone who can put up a real fight against Scott Tipton.”

Iacino, who moved from Denver to Montrose in October, plans to put his East Denver home on the market within weeks, Mulcahy said.

Tipton, who won an endorsement from President Donald Trump last month after conservative activist and restaurant owner Lauren Boebert announced she was challenging him in the GOP primary, had raised a total of $552,576 through the quarter that ended Sept. 30 and had $412,520 on hand.

A spokesman for Tipton’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The leading Democrat running for the seat, former state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush of Steamboat Springs, reported raising $294,941 through the third quarter, with $184,054 on hand.

Mitsch Bush is seeking a rematch against Tipton, who defeated her by about 8 percentage points in 2018.

She told Colorado Politics on Tuesday that her campaign plans to release her top-line numbers “shortly” but stressed that she’s raising most of her money from within the sprawling district.

“We are very proud of what we’ve been raising,” said Mitsch Bush. “The real discussing has to be about, who’s doing the giving, where do they live, and why.”

She added: “My campaign has received donations from all 29 counties in the 3rd District, from people from all walks of life. I’m really proud of that.”

Democrat Root Routledge, a grassroots candidate who failed to make the primary ballot last year and is running again, reported raising $2,001 through the third quarter and had $1,697 on hand.

The largely rural district, which has been represented by Republicans and Democrats over the years but has leaned Republican in recent elections, covers most of the Western Slope, Pueblo County and the San Luis Valley.

National Democrats say they’re again targeting Tipton, who unseated Democratic U.S. Rep. John Salazar in 2010 and has won re-election by comfortable margins since.