U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet loaned his campaign for Colorado governor nearly $1 million for the final month of the Democratic primary — appearing to make up a gap as he’d spent more than he raised, according to new finance reports.
In the same reporting cycle, billionaire Michael Bloomberg also doubled down on his support for Bennet. The former New York City mayor dropped another $2 million on the independent committee set up to bolster Bennet. Bloomberg’s total cash support has now hit $4.5 million.
Bennet, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor against Attorney General Phil Weiser, reported a total fundraising haul of about $200,000 in the most recent campaign finance reports, due Monday, which covered May 28 through June 10. His total campaign haul increased to $4.8 million.
Meanwhile, he spent about $836,000 in that period, for nearly $5.1 million in total spending. Bennet loaned his campaign $950,000 on May 29, a boost that left him with about $700,000 in the bank.
The most recent campaign finance cycle coincided with ballots arriving in mailboxes and the final sprint before the June 30 primary election.
In a statement in response to a question about the candidate’s loan, Bennet’s campaign manager, Nellie Moran, blamed Weiser for running “the most negative Democratic gubernatorial campaign in Colorado history.”
“(Weiser’s) own campaign — not outside groups — has spent more than $1 million on TV and digital ads attacking Michael and misleading voters,” Moran said in the statement. “Michael’s investment in this campaign reflects his commitment to ensuring Coloradans hear about his positive vision to reject the status quo and deliver results by tackling the cost-of-living crisis, taking on Donald Trump’s lawlessness, and building a better future for the next generation.”
Weiser campaign spokesman Nate Jackson called attention to the large sums being donated in support of Bennet, including to the super PAC backing him.
“The out-of-state billionaires, special interests, and corporations bankrolling Michael Bennet’s campaign are dumping millions into this race at the eleventh hour for one reason: they are desperate because they know Phil’s people-powered campaign is surging,” he said. “The billionaires and corporations backing Michael Bennet have an agenda for him — Phil’s only agenda is to fight for the people of Colorado.”
Rocky Mountain Way, the super PAC supporting Bennet, has reported raising about $10.3 million this election cycle, including $4.5 million from Bloomberg. Bloomberg also reported spending another $110,000 with a prominent polling firm for the committee.
Rocky Mountain Way has spent nearly $7.5 million so far, including about $1.3 million on TV and internet advertising set to hit screens over the next week.
Weiser’s campaign, for its part, continues to lead Bennet in direct contributions — though the super PAC supporting his candidacy has raised only about a tenth of what Rocky Mountain Way has.
Weiser reported raising about $246,000 in the most recent reporting period, for a total haul of $6.5 million. In that same time, his campaign spent nearly $1 million, for a total of $6.1 million in spending. He had about $462,000 in the bank at the end of the reporting period.
The super PAC supporting Weiser, Fighting for Colorado, has reported a total haul of about $1.3 million this election cycle. It has so far spent about $715,000 of that.
The super PACs are allowed to raise and spend unlimited sums of money, though they are prohibited from collaborating with the campaigns.
On the Republican side of the governor’s race, nonprofit leader Victor Marx continues to comfortably lead the field in fundraising.
Marx reported raising $169,000 in the most recent reporting cycle, for a total haul of $2.8 million. He also spent about $344,000 in that time period and has spent $2.6 million total. He entered the home stretch of the race with about $203,000 in the bank.
State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer reported raising $43,000, for a total haul of $608,000. She spent about $65,000 in the most recent reporting period, and about $542,000 total. She had about $75,000 in the bank.
State Rep. Scott Bottoms raised about $17,000 in the most recent period and $227,000 total. He spent about $13,000 in the most recent cycle and $229,000 total. He had about $14,000 in the bank.
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