Joan Fitz-Gerald’s revived fundraising over the past three months may put her in a better position to make it to Congress – but whether she can afford to hold on to her state Senate seat is still in doubt.
One of the highest-ranking women in state politics, Fitz-Gerald is virtually barred from raising money while the legislature is in session. And a four-month timeout for the Senate president would be a tough blow when one of her Democratic primary opponents is multimillionaire Jared Polis.
Fitz-Gerald campaign manager Mary Alice Mandarich said Sunday she expects to report more than $360,000 from about 1,100 donors, though official results won’t be released until Oct. 15. That’s about $130,000 more than last quarter, but what’s still unknown is how that stacks up to her opponents.
“Running … is a full-time job”
The third quarter was “of critical importance” for Fitz-Gerald, said Dave Was serman, who analyzes U.S. House races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Raising less money than her opponents again would have been “a warning sign to potential donors,” he said.
In the first fundraising period – half of which was during the last legislative session – Polis raised $305,000 and wrote himself a check for an additional $140,000.
Will Shafroth, the third Democrat vying for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Mark Udall, raised $297,000, and Fitz-Gerald trailed with $237,000.
Polis’ campaign manager, Wanda James, said Sunday that he “definitely did better than last quarter” but that it was too early to provide a number. Shafroth’s campaign did not release an estimate either.
For weeks, Fitz-Gerald has been weighing whether she can keep up the pace of running a campaign along with 10-hour days in the legislature.
“I’ve given 110 percent in my years in leadership, and I never want to do less than that no matter what job I’m doing,” she said. “The good of the whole is too important.”
Jumping straight from the legislature to Washington has been done – by Democratic Reps. John Salazar and Diana DeGette and Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn. But it’s not necessarily advised.
“Running for Congress is a full-time job,” said Steve Welchert, a Democratic political consultant. “To do less is to make a tactical mistake. You need to spend every moment either raising money or raising votes.”
Senate President pro tem Peter Groff, D-Denver, appears poised to take over the top leadership spot if Fitz-Gerald steps down before the next session, which runs from January to May.
He had a say in replacing the Senate Democrats’ chief of staff when she resigned to run Fitz-Gerald’s campaign – though he said he has always been consulted about staff decisions. And Groff said he stepped in “a little bit more” often for Fitz-Gerald during the summer while she was campaigning.
“He’s president pro tem, so there’s a normal assumption there,” Fitz-Gerald said.
Fundraising obstacles
Political analysts say Fitz-Gerald has to weigh her ability to raise money against the name recognition and publicity that come with leading the Senate. And if she stays in the legislature, she opens herself up to criticism.
“People are going to raise questions – how can you do justice to your position in the Colorado Senate and to your presidency?” said Colorado State University political scientist John Straayer. “She may be able to handle it, but in politics, it’s doesn’t make any difference.”
The biggest obstacle, though, is fundraising.
State law prohibits lawmakers from taking contributions from lobbyists or anyone who “employs, retains, engages, or uses” a lobbyist.
Any attempt at fundraising by Fitz-Gerald during the session would be heavily scrutinized. She couldn’t solicit a donation from a lawyer without first checking whether his or her firm had business at the Capitol, and she likely couldn’t take money from a neighbor who happened to work for Qwest.
Registered Democrats vastly outnumber Republicans in the 2nd District, which includes most of Boulder County, Weld County and mountain communities along the Interstate 70 corridor. That means whoever wins the primary is likely to win the seat.
While Fitz-Gerald has proven experience and a fair number of more traditional constituencies in her corner, such as unions and former Democratic politicians, the 2nd Congressional District is less “New Deal Democratic” than other Democratic strongholds, said political analyst Eric Sondermann.
“Labor doesn’t hold as much sway. It’s more of a ‘green,’ higher-education, area,” said Sondermann, a political analyst who was part of a team of consultants hired by Polis during the legislative session to find ways to implement Amendment 41.
Well-funded candidates
The race for the seat is also unique in that all three candidates are relatively well-funded.
Polis, an entrepreneur and former state school board member, has received the support of a number of business interests, including some Republicans. He is expected to reach into his deep pockets when necessary.
Shafroth, who runs the Colorado Conservation Trust, has attracted a number of supporters from Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s camp.
Sniping between Polis and Fitz-Gerald often has eclipsed Shafroth; however, his conservation experience has given him national “contacts and credibility,” said lawyer Tom Strickland, a former U.S. Senate candidate and a Shafroth supporter, who expects him to be a productive fundraiser.
Staff librarian Barry Osborne contributed to this report.
Jennifer Brown: 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, Eric Sondermann’s role was incorrectly described. Sondermann was part of a team of consultants hired by Polis during the legislative session to find ways to implement Amendment 41.
