#COpolitics campaign cash: May 21 edition

With the June 26 primary just more than a month away, candidates should be spending some of that cash.

That will be the focus today as we track the filings for statewide candidates fundraising and spending between May 3 and May 16.

Keep hitting refresh as those reports roll in.

Governor

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis puts another $1.5 million into the contest, bringing the Democratic multi-millionaire’s total self-funding to more than $7.8 million. He spent $1.4 million, and of course most of that was for TV advertising.

Democrat Cary Kennedy, the former state treasurer, raised nearly $110,000 and spent $380,000, mostly on advertising. She still has nearly $166,000 in the bank.

Former Democratic state Sen. Michael Johnston brought in $48,353 and spent more than $85,000, most of it on payroll. He’s apparently relying on a super PAC, Frontier Fairness, to promote him on TV and via mail pieces. But Johnston still has more than $801,000 in the bank.

GOP Treasurer Walker Stapleton brought in nearly $41,000, and spent more than $285,00. Some of that went to TV, but the campaign also sent mailers. We’d love to see some of those at Follow the Message. He still has $590,000 in the bank.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne raised about $19,000, and spent nearly $84,000 on advertising.

Republican multi-millionaire Victor Mitchell loaned his campaign another $300,000 while spending nearly $540,000, mostly on advertising. How much more will Mitchell sink into his effort? He’s already put in most of the $3.3 million he’s spent, and has only $29,000 in cash.

GOP businessman Doug Robinson brought in about $22,100 and spent about $29,000. He has about $92,000 in the bank headed toward the last month of the campaign.

Then there’s Greg Lopez. His report dated May 21 is actually for transactions that were to be reported May 5. Maybe his people will get the hang of all this in another couple of weeks.

Attorney General

Democrat Phil Weiser reports spending $390,000 on TV ads, while raising more than $47,000 over two weeks. We’ve seen contracts of more than $316,000 of those ads reported to the FCC.

His Democratic primary opponent, Rep. Joe Salazar, raised less than $7,000 in the last two weeks, and has only about $12,000 in cash.

Republican George Brauchler, the Arapahoe County district attorney, raised $15,000 and spent nearly $45,000, including more than $31,000 on photography.

Treasurer

GOP Rep. Justin Everett brought in more than $9,100 and spent $141. He has more than $20,000 in the bank.

That compares with Republican Brian Watson raised less than $9,000, and spent more than $122,000, including $70,000 on media. He has $51,000 in cash.

GOP Rep. Polly Lawrence raised $4,550, and has $34,00 in cash.

Democratic Rep. Dave Young in the primary raised nearly $12,000, and has nearly $28,000 in cash. He faces Democrat Bernie Douthit in the June 26 primary. Douthit raised $2,750, with $2,000 from his own wallet, and has more than $21,000 in the bank.

Secretary of State

Democratic challenger Jena Griswold again outpaced GOP incumbent Republican Wayne Williams. She raised nearly $10,700 to Williams’ almost $9,300. Griswold has nearly $217,000 in cash, while Williams has nearly $96,000 in the bank.

Committees

And… Teachers for Kennedy took in $1.35 million. Of that, $800,000 came from Women Vote!, a super PAC run by Emily’s List. Colorado donors include Laurie Michaels, of Woody Creek, and Judi Wagner, of Littleton, at $50,000 each.

Another $400,000 came from the Colorado Fund for Children and Public Education, aka, teachers unions. And $150,000 came from Love Colorado, another state-level independent spending group supporting Democratic women.

Teachers for Kennedy spent only about $41,000. But that $1.2 million TV ad bill will come in soon.

Frontier Fairness, the super PAC supporting Johnston, brought in $171,000, and spent more than $411,000, mostly on consulting. The group still has nearly $1.6 million in the bank.

UPDATED: Build Colorado’s Future, the committee backing Robinson, filed a report late Tuesday afternoon with $51,000 in donations and nearly $103,000 in spending. The group spent most of its money on TV ads, and ends with more than $103,000 in the bank.

Better Colorado Now raised $62,000, comparatively better than its last report. Included is $50,000 from Dorothy Stapleton, of North Palm Beach, Fla. I.E., Walker Stapleton’s mom. The group reports spending nearly $73,000 in ads supporting Stapleton on May 11. It ends with $388,000 in cash.

Bold Colorado, which supports Polis for governor, raised $35,000 and spent less than $30,000. All but $5,000 of the contributions came from out of state.

Here’s a look at summary information for statewide candidates. Johnston’s spending total has been updated.