Colorado GOP Faces Criticism and Shortfall in Recent FEC Filings

The Colorado Republican Party spent nearly twice as much money as it raised last month. Recent FEC filings have shed light on the current fundraising status of the Colorado GOP, showing a significant gap between what was raised and what was spent.

According to the filings, the party raised a little over $12,000 last month, but spent almost double that amount at $22,000. This resulted in a shortfall of nearly $10,000, with the majority being used for party officers and staff payments and reimbursements:

• Party Chair Dave Williams received $2,500 for consulting services and travel expenses.
• Party Treasurer Tom Bjorklund received $5,000 for "treasury services."
• Party Secretary Anna Ferguson received $883 for mileage reimbursement.
• Staffer Weston Imer received $1,386 for travel and office supply expenses.

Despite the party reporting $18,734 in fundraising in the previous month, the current amount of $12,266 falls short. Chair Williams has claimed that the party has raised a total of $147,439 this year, but recent filings show that number to be closer to $97,000.

However, there is another $50,000 in donations that cannot be used for campaign purposes. Former state Senator Kevin Lundberg oversees the party's independent legal defense fund, which is currently being used for a lawsuit against Colorado's voter-approved open primaries. Lundberg claims to have raised over $50,000 for this fund, but by law, it can only be used for legal expenses and not to support candidates or other political activities.

These poor numbers could be evidence that donors do not like Dave Williams' attacks on fellow Republicans, his attempt to close primaries to unaffiliated Colorado voters, and his renewed attempts to manipulate the party's bylaws.