Colorado Politics

Democratic challenger Adam Frisch raises 4 times as much as incumbent Lauren Boebert in 3rd quarter

Adam Frisch, the Colorado Democrat who came within fewer than 600 votes of unseating Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in last year’s election, hauled in four times as much as the incumbent in the most recent fundraising quarter, according to campaign finance reports filed over the weekend.

The race to represent the Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District is already shaping up to be the most expensive congressional contest in state history, with Frisch’s fundraising totals alone shattering previous records for off-year contributions in Colorado.

Frisch’s campaign reported bringing in nearly $3.4 million from July through September, compared to just over $850,000 brought in by Boebert, who is seeking a third term.

It’s the third consecutive quarter this year that the former Aspen city council member has outraised Boebert – and the third quarter running that Frisch raised more than every other congressional candidate in the state, combined.

Frisch launched a bid for a 2024 rematch in February after coming within 546 votes of beating the outspoken ally of former President Donald Trump. Recent polling by Democratic firms has shown a neck-and-neck race between Frisch and Boebert.

Congressional candidates were required to file quarterly reports with the Federal Election Commission by midnight Sunday.

After spending $1.5 million during the three-month period, Frisch’s campaign reported more than $4.3 million on hand. Boebert’s campaign held just over $860,000 and finished the quarter with over $1.4 million in the bank – just under one-third of her challenger’s balance.

Frisch has raised more than $7.7 million for the cycle, while Boebert has brought in just under $2.5 million. The totals include funds left over from last year’s campaigns.

Both candidates face primary challengers for the targeted seat, which covers most of the Western Slope and parts of Southern Colorado, including Pueblo County and the San Luis Valley.

Republican Jeff Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, reported raising just over $400,000 for the quarter, his first in the race. After spending just over $50,000, he had about $350,000 on hand.

Boebert’s other GOP challenger, Russ Andrews, raised nearly $40,000 and loaned his campaign more than $250,000. He reported spending about $40,000 and had just over $260,000 left over.

Seeking the Democratic nomination, Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout raised just over $100,000 in her first quarter in the race. She spent about $60,000 and finished the quarter with just over $40,000 on hand.

Frisch and Boebert both spent heavily on fundraising during the quarter, aiming to expand their bases of small-dollar donors, who can theoretically contribute over and over throughout the campaign.

“I am deeply humbled by the over 100,000 individual donations that were made to our campaign this quarter to defeat Lauren Boebert,” Frisch said in a statement. “Western and Southern Colorado deserve a representative who will work hard to deliver results and put the needs of the district first, not an extreme political agenda. Thanks to our generous supporters, we will defeat Boebert in 2024.”

Boebert expressed gratitude to “the thousands of voters across the 3rd District and beyond who have stood by me and continued to support our grassroots-led campaign” in a statement.

“Our fundraising has always been powered by the working-class families of rural Colorado, which is why I’ve worked tirelessly to deliver substantive results for them on the local issues they care about most,” she said. “While I know progressive dark-money groups will continue to pour millions into our district to smear me and mislead Coloradans, I’m as confident as ever that we will have the resources we need to share our message and win in 2024.”

Hurd’s campaign said that contributions from numerous prominent state Republicans and 3rd District stalwarts mean that Boebert’s days could be numbered.

“As someone who is not a politician and got into this race with half the quarter over, we are proud to have raised about $412k,” his campaign said in a text message. “We are proud of the support of many voters here in CO-3, and look forward to continuing to talk about the issues that matter to our district – combating inflation, protecting our water, supporting our ag community, and energy independence.”

Among Hurd’s donors: former University of Colorado President Bruce Benson and his wife, Marcy; former Mesa State University President Tim Foster; former Colorado Attorney General and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers; and former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown.

Calling her campaign “people-powered,” Stout said in a statement that she is humbled by the support she received in the two months since launching her run.

“We have received contributions from all stretches of the nation, but, most notably, people from within Colorado have spoken with their wallets that they want us in this race, having given at all levels,” she said. “As someone who grew up in this district and has worked hard from a young age, I know the value of a hard-earned dollar and appreciate the working people who have joined our movement to build a stronger Colorado.”

Of the handful of third-party candidates who have filed to run for the seat, only Libertarian James Wiley reported raising funds during the quarter by the deadline. He said he raised $282 and finished the quarter with the same amount in the bank after not spending anything.

Democratic candidate for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District Adam Frisch, left, and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., right, are pictured. Frisch is mounting another run for the seat in 2024.
(AP Photo, File)
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