Candidate fundraising tops $100,000 in four state Senate contests that promise to be barnburners in the Nov. 6 election.
Sure there are some expensive Senate primaries thus far. But the most expensive of those are likely to be all but decided on June 26.
Here are the hottest races when it comes to cash, in order of the amount raised:
Senate District 16
GOP Sen. Tim Neville faces a formidable Democratic opponent in Tammy Story. She’s outraised him by nearly $141,000 to about $102,000 through May 2. That’s $243,000 with six months of fundraising to go.
And Story has nearly $114,000 in cash, compared with Neville’s $90,000.
Libertarian candidate James Gilman hasn’t raised any money yet.
Unaffiliated voters make up 38 percent of the Jefferson County district, with Republicans and Democrats at about 30 percent each.
Senate District 24
Democratic Rep. Faith Winter is taking on incumbent GOP Sen. Beth Martinez Humenik in this north suburban district centered in Adams County.
Winter is outpacing Humenik considerably, raising nearly $143,000 to nearly $48,000. And she has nearly $114,000 in the bank to Humenik’s $30,000.
Unaffiliated candidate Adam Matkowsky has raised about $7,600, while Libertarian candidate Donald Osburn hasn’t raised any money.
Unaffiliated voters make up about 39 percent of the district, Democrats 32 percent and Republicans 27 percent.
Senate District 20
It’s another district where the Democrat is outraising the Republican candidate. In this instance, the contest is to replace term-limited Sen. Cheri Jahn, who switched from the Democratic Party to unaffiliated before her final legislative session.
State Rep. Jessie Danielson has raised more than $71,000, while GOP opponent Christine Jensen has brought in more than $42,000. But Danielson has a narrower lead when it comes to cash in the bank, about $61,000 to nearly $54,000 for Jensen. That’s because the Republican loaned her campaign more than $17,000.
Libertarian candidate Charles Messick hasn’t raised any money.
This Jefferson County district is 38 percent unaffiliated, with the two parties each around to 30 percent.
Senate District 22
In this Jefferson County District, GOP candidate Tony Sanchez is outraising Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen by nearly $54,000 to about $47,000.
Sanchez, who lost to term-limited Sen. Andy Kerr in 2014, has $40,000 in the bank to Pettersen’s nearly $30,000.
It’s another district that is 38 percent unaffiliated, 31 percent Democratic and 28 percent Republican.
Senate District 15
GOP Sen. Kevin Lundberg is term-limited in this Larimer County seat. And Republican Rob Woodward has raised nearly $80,000 to Democrat Rebecca Cranston’s $14,000.
Woodward has put nearly $10,000 of his own money into the campaign, and has about $21,000 in the bank. That compares with Cranston’s $9,000 in cash.
The district is 38 percent unaffiliated, 36 percent Republican, and about 24 percent Democratic.
Senate District 30
In this three-way race, Republican Senate Majority Leader Chris Holbert faces the biggest cash threat from his unaffiliated opponent.
Holbert has raised $51,000 since his last election in 2014, while Steve Peterson raised more than $31,000 in five months. Holbert has $24,000 in cash to Peterson’s $23,000.
Democrat Julia Varnell-Sarjeant has raised almost $2,700.
The Douglas County district is 42 percent Republican, 35 percent unaffiliated and 22 percent Democratic.