Denver mayoral candidate Kelly Brough speaks during a Fair Elections Fund mayoral debate in Claver Hall at Regis University on Feb. 09, 2023. Seated behind her are fellow candidates Lisa Calderón and Chris Hansen. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston topped the Denver field in fundraising in February, with their direct contributions averaging out to more than $5,500 a day.
Brough, formerly CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, raised $163,748 in the year’s shortest month, according to candidate financial disclosures.
Johnston, a former state senator, was close behind, raising $160,634. He had held the top spot in January.
Leslie Herod, Chris Hansen and Kwame Spearman rounded out the top five for February, but each of them raised significantly less.
The above figures do not include contributions from the city’s new “Fair Elections Fund,” which provides public matching funds to participating campaigns, because the issuance of those funds is delayed. The figures also do not include donations to “independent expenditure” committees, which are not affiliated with a candidate but raise and spend money to support them.
The municipal election is April 4. The top two vote-getters will compete in a June 6 runoff election. Campaigns were required to disclose February fundraising by Monday.
Below are the 10 candidates who raised at least $10,000 last month, not counting personal loans or expected matching funds. Some figures have been rounded.
1) Kelly Brough
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $163,748
Contributions since campaign launch: $617,872
Since launch, including matching funds already dispensed: $1.148 million
Also including outside spending on behalf of the candidate: $1.711 million
2) Mike Johnston
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $160,634
Since campaign launch: $475,205
Including matching funds: $728,240
Also including outside spending: $1.108 million
3) Leslie Herod
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $55,699
Since campaign launch: $315,370
Including matching funds: $756,602
Also including outside spending: $878,952
4) Chris Hansen
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $53,438
Since campaign launch: $186,651
Including matching funds: $443,011
5) Kwame Spearman
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $40,320 (plus a $5,000 loan from Spearman to his campaign)
Since campaign launch: $95,634
Including matching funds: $219,074
6) Debbie Ortega
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $29,804
Since campaign launch: $137,562
Including matching funds: $332,727
Also including outside spending: $342,727
7) Lisa Calderón
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $22,186
Since campaign launch: $64,924
Including matching funds: $181,629
8) Ean Tafoya
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $12,997
Since campaign launch: $52,692 (plus a $2,000 loan from Tafoya to his campaign)
Including matching funds: $161,704
9) Trinidad Rodriguez
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $12,673
Since campaign launch: $57,440 (plus $5,000 in loans from Rodriguez to his campaign)
Including matching funds: $151,036
10) Andy Rougeot
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $11,705
Contributions since campaign launch: $47,857 (plus $750,000 in loans from Rougeot to his campaign)
Not participating in matching funds program
Denver mayoral candidate Kelly Brough speaks during a Fair Elections Fund mayoral debate in Claver Hall at Regis University on Feb. 09, 2023. Seated behind her are fellow candidates Lisa Calderón and Chris Hansen. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Kelly Brough and Mike Johnston topped the Denver field in fundraising in February, with their direct contributions averaging out to more than $5,500 a day.
Brough, formerly CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, raised $163,748 in the year’s shortest month, according to candidate financial disclosures.
Johnston, a former state senator, was close behind, raising $160,634. He had held the top spot in January.
Leslie Herod, Chris Hansen and Kwame Spearman rounded out the top five for February, but each of them raised significantly less.
The above figures do not include contributions from the city’s new “Fair Elections Fund,” which provides public matching funds to participating campaigns, because the issuance of those funds is delayed. The figures also do not include donations to “independent expenditure” committees, which are not affiliated with a candidate but raise and spend money to support them.
The municipal election is April 4. The top two vote-getters will compete in a June 6 runoff election. Campaigns were required to disclose February fundraising by Monday.
Below are the 10 candidates who raised at least $10,000 last month, not counting personal loans or expected matching funds. Some figures have been rounded.
1) Kelly Brough
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $163,748
Contributions since campaign launch: $617,872
Since launch, including matching funds already dispensed: $1.148 million
Also including outside spending on behalf of the candidate: $1.711 million
2) Mike Johnston
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $160,634
Since campaign launch: $475,205
Including matching funds: $728,240
Also including outside spending: $1.108 million
3) Leslie Herod
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $55,699
Since campaign launch: $315,370
Including matching funds: $756,602
Also including outside spending: $878,952
4) Chris Hansen
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $53,438
Since campaign launch: $186,651
Including matching funds: $443,011
5) Kwame Spearman
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $40,320 (plus a $5,000 loan from Spearman to his campaign)
Since campaign launch: $95,634
Including matching funds: $219,074
6) Debbie Ortega
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $29,804
Since campaign launch: $137,562
Including matching funds: $332,727
Also including outside spending: $342,727
7) Lisa Calderón
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $22,186
Since campaign launch: $64,924
Including matching funds: $181,629
8) Ean Tafoya
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $12,997
Since campaign launch: $52,692 (plus a $2,000 loan from Tafoya to his campaign)
Including matching funds: $161,704
9) Trinidad Rodriguez
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $12,673
Since campaign launch: $57,440 (plus $5,000 in loans from Rodriguez to his campaign)
Including matching funds: $151,036
10) Andy Rougeot
February monetary and in-kind contributions: $11,705
Contributions since campaign launch: $47,857 (plus $750,000 in loans from Rougeot to his campaign)
Not participating in matching funds program
