Campaign advertising in Colorado hits $35 million
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Colorado is seeing about $35 million in campaign advertising for the 2024 congressional races, with Democrats dominating in each contest, an exclusive Axios Denver analysis shows.
Why it matters: The figures are the most comprehensive look at the campaigns in Colorado, covering publicly reported and yet-to-be-disclosed advertising spending.
State of play: Democrats have spent $22 million on campaign advertising for the general election, compared to Republicans' $13 million, the AdImpact data analysis reveals.
- More than three-quarters of the total is being spent in just one congressional race — the hotly contested 8th District just north Denver.
- U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and her Democratic allies have spent more than $16 million on campaign ads since Sept. 1, compared to $11.2 million for Republican challenger state Rep. Gabe Evans.
By the numbers: The greatest disparity is the 3rd District on the Western Slope, where Democrat Adam Frisch and his allies have spent $5 million on advertising — three times that of his GOP rival Jeff Hurd in the conservative-leaning district.
The intrigue: In the ruby-red 4th District, where firebrand U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert relocated, Democrats are making their strongest push ever to win the newly drawn district with candidate Trisha Calvarese spending more than $910,800 on advertising.
- Boebert has spent a scant $102,500 but is still favored to win.
The big picture: A huge fundraising haul by Democratic candidates is driving the ad spending.
- In reports through September made public this week, Democratic candidates in Colorado raised over $34 million, triple Republicans' haul, the Denver Post reported.
- The fundraising mirrored the national picture where Democratic House candidates nationwide clobbered their GOP opponents in the most recent quarter.
Zoom in: In Colorado's 8th District, Caraveo brought in $8.7 million from July through September, compared to $2 million for Evans.
- She had $2.3 million in the bank for the final month of the campaign, compared to $800,000 in Evans' account.
- Frisch and Calvarese each outraised their GOP rivals, too.
Context: The total ad spending in Colorado is far smaller than other states where the presidential election is contested and campaigns are spending hundreds of millions on TV ads.
- Colorado saw just $11,000 in presidential campaign advertising with the majority ($7,200) coming from Democrats.