DENVER – We won’t know who gets the job until November, but candidates vying for Colorado’s governor’s job have already spent $25 million on their campaigns. Data journalist Sandra Fish says that’s more spending than candidates who wanted the job in 2010 and 2014 combined.
“We’ve not had a race this competitive since 1974 when you had five Democrats and three Republicans in the primary,” Fish told Anne Trujillo on this weekend’s Politics Unplugged, adding that a slate of wealthy candidates has helped fuel that dollar amount.
“Congressman Jared Polis leads the way, he’s spent $11 million. Victor Mitchell on the Republican side has put $5 million into his campaign; even State Treasurer Walker Stapleton has put about a million dollar into his coffers,” Fish said, adding that the only candidate that hasn’t loaned their campaign money is Mike Johnston.
Fish also maintains the Follow The Message website where she tracks not only television ads but mailers and other items sent to voters by the campaigns and political action committees (PACs).
Politics Unplugged airs Sundays at 4:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Denver7 and noon on K3-KCDO.