Face The State Staff Report
In Jefferson County's closely contested Senate District 19, Democrat Evie Hudak has started raking in union cash, while Republican Libby Szabo has seen her large-donor support come mostly from pro-business organizations and the state's energy providers.
SzaboThe campaign
According to June campaign finance reports filed by both candidates with the Secretary of State, Hudak received a total of $5,550 from unions across the state during the month. Her top contributors were state Democrats and local teacher’s unions.
Hudak, the sitting State Board of Education member representing the 2nd Congressional District, got more than $4,750 from teacher’s unions with the remaining $800 coming from a local plumbers’ union and a national transportation workers’ union.
In contrast, bulk of Szabo’s institutional backing during the reporting period came from groups representing business and energy interests. Xcel Energy and the Colorado Petroleum Marketers Association each gave to Szabo, who is an outspoken advocate of energy exploration in the state. She has also received $900 from various pro-business groups and another $950 from lobbying firms representing businesses.
The two campaigns also received a different amount of support from their respective political parties. The June contribution report shows that Hudak received over $5,500 in contributions from her fellow Democrats, whereas Szabo received none from elected Republican legislators.
Hudak banked $4,500 in June alone from the Democratic Senate Campaign Fund, the fundraising arm for state Democrats. Szabo received no funds from the GOP equivalent, the Senate Majority Fund.
Hudak told the Colorado Statesman last week that she expects SD 19 to be a hotly contested race with both parties zeroing in on district, which is considered one of the most competitive in the state.
“The Democratic Majority in the state Senate is not very large,” Hudak said. “When I look at the other seats that are open, they’re not as competitive in terms of registration.” The district is split nearly evenly with 35 percent of voters registered Republican, 30 percent Democrat, and 34 percent unaffiliated.
Hudak also got over $1,000 from Democrat politicians and candidates. Congressman Ed Perlmutter gave her $250 and millionaire Jared Polis — who has already forked out $3.7 million of his own money in a bid to represent Boulder and Colorado’s 2nd Congessional District — gave her $400 last month.
She received the remaining $350 from Democrats currently serving in the General Assembly, including term-limited incumbent and fellow teachers’ union favorite, Sue Windels.
Both campaigns are working to demonstrate grassroots support through smaller, individual contributions as well. Szabo says she tries to keep her fundraising efforts as locally-focused as much as possible.
“It’s important to me to keep fundraising in the district,” she said. “People give money to me because they relate to me and feel I best represent their interests.”
Hudak received more support from out-of-state individual donors than Szabo, including Weston Milliken of West Hollywood, who gave $200. Milliken, the heir to a massive textile fortune and son of Roger Milliken, a major Republican donor, is a known liberal activist who has donated thousands to MoveOn.org, Emily’s List, and presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
Money has been spent differently in the last reporting cycle as well. Szabo spent $1,779 on her campaign last month while Hudak spent $4,669.
Hudak has spent $1,384.04 of that paying for campaign workers’ cell phone and gas bills. Szabo spent most her money last month on mailings and food for campaign volunteers.
“People in my district believe in me so much that they’re willing to support me financially even in times of economic uncertainty,” Szabo said. “That truly means a lot to me. It’s one thing when millionaires donate money to campaigns, but when average citizens donate their hard-earned cash, that really means something.”
As of July 2nd, Szabo was leading Hudak in cash on hand, with $42,504.15 in the bank to Hudak's $35,003.86. Starting this month, state legislative campaigns must file reports with the Secretary of State at least every two weeks, with the next reports due July 21st.