Even without Lauren Boebert as a foil, Adam Frisch leads in fundraising in Colorado congressional contests

In the El Paso County-centered district, where Lamborn announced he would step down at the end of his term, two Republican men hope to represent a district that has been solidly GOP for decades.

State party chairman Dave Williams raised $171,000 in the first quarter, though $100,000 of that total was a loan he made to his campaign. He entered the race just days after Lamborn announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in January.

In the primary, Williams faces Jeff Crank, a consultant and longtime radio host in Colorado Springs who ran against Lamborn in 2006 and 2008. Crank collected just over $300,000 over the last three months and has more than $227,000 cash on hand.

Democrat River Gassen, a scientist who has worked for NASA, collected nearly $30,000 in the first quarter. She has $6,000 cash on hand. Another candidate, Joe Reagan, has reported no fundraising.

8th Congressional District

The next-biggest fundraiser across Colorado’s eight congressional districts, behind Frisch, has been U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat. She took in $855,000 during the most recent reporting period.

While the 8th Congressional District, Colorado’s newest, doesn’t have an open seat like the other three districts do, it is being closely watched because it is easily Colorado’s most politically competitive district. It extends from Commerce City north to Greeley.

The freshman congresswoman came out of March with a $2 million war chest to take on a Republican foe in November. That opponent is likely to be state Rep. Gabe Evans, a farmer and former Arvada police officer, who has raised the most money of the two Republicans still in the race.

He brought in just over $250,000 in the first quarter and has $340,000 cash on hand. Retired physician Janak Joshi reported $125,000 in receipts, though $100,000 of that was a loan he made to his campaign.

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