Bloomberg drops $750K to boost Bennet in Dem governor primary
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A super PAC supporting Michael Bennet set a new bar in the Colorado governor's race with the largest campaign contribution to date: $750,000 from billionaire Michael Bloomberg.
Why it matters: The big checks are crucial as Bennet and his allies look to close the fundraising gap built by rival Phil Weiser and prepare a campaign blitz in the six months before the all-important Democratic primary in June.
State of play: The former New York mayor and presidential candidate's largesse allowed the pro-Bennet Rocky Mountain Way committee to raise $1.4 million in the final three months of 2025, the most of any player in the fourth quarter. The committee entered this year with $3.3 million in the bank, new campaign finance reports show.
- Bennet, a three-term U.S. senator, raised $789,200 in the same period but spent nearly all of it. He had $1.6 million cash on hand to start the year.
The intrigue: Rocky Mountain Way also received $150,000 more from Brighter Future for Colorado, a dark-money organization that doesn't disclose its donors. Brighter Future's total investment in Bennet is now $450,000.
The other side: Weiser, the state's attorney general, raised more money for his campaign than Bennet. He posted $840,200 in the same period and began 2026 with far more in the bank at $3.5 million.
- The super PAC supporting Weiser, Fighting for Colorado, lags after raising just $348,200 in the fourth quarter and finishing with $527,200 left to spend.
What they're saying: "We don't have out-of-state billionaires behind us; we have the people of Colorado powering our campaign," Weiser said in a statement.
- Nellie Moran, Bennet's campaign manager, said in a statement that their reports show more contributions, unique donors and the lowest average contribution.
The big picture: The two Democratic campaigns and super PACs have raised $12.2 million to date and spent $3.3 million so far, reports show.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show Brighter Future has donated $550,000 (not $450,000) to a super PAC supporting Michael Bennet.