Congresswoman Betsy Markey is the latest freshman to break a Colorado fundraising record after her first three months in office.
The Fort Collins Democrat raised $342,000 through March 31, according to her campaign.
That beats the record held by Democratic Congressman Ed Perl mutter, who in his first quarter of 2007 raised $263,900. In that same period, freshman Republican Congressman Doug Lamborn raised $74,928.
“That’s pretty good; that’s pretty strong, given the economy is brutal,” political consultant Steve Welchert said of Markey’s total.
He said Markey’s tally also is impressive given she’s tapping some of the same donors who have contributed to another newbie, Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.
Markey is going to need a war chest to keep the seat she wrestled in November from three-term incumbent Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, a Republican.
She beat Musgrave by double digits, but some pundits expect a closer contest in 2010 because the seat traditionally has been safe for Republicans.
Among those mentioned as contenders for the GOP nomination are Tom Lucero, a member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents; state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma; and Fort Collins City Councilman Diggs Brown.
Markey’s fundraising numbers represent support from nearly 600 individual donors across the 4th Congressional District. More than 75 percent of her campaign contributions are from Colorado.
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
