All data updated to reflect latest reporting period (ending May 26th with a June 2nd reporting deadline)
Top Senate Races
Senate District 8
Rep. Al White, R-Hayden v. Former Steamboat Springs City Council President Ken Brenner
June 2 Cash on hand: White (R) $52,803.41; Brenner (D) $23,536.05
Senate District 14
Sen. Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins v. Republican challenger and activist Matt Fries
June 2 Cash on hand: Fries (R) $4,702.34; Bacon (D) $28,132.19
Senate District 16
Sen. Dan Gibbs, D-Silvertorne v. Republican Businessman challenger Donald Ytterberg
June 2 Cash on hand: Ytterberg (R) $16,810.45; Gibbs $425
Ytterberg will have his hands full against incumbent Gibbs, a former Udall staffer. Voter registration numbers make this a top race on paper, but with a multi-county district that is nearly impossible to walk, finding an effective way to make voter contact will be key. The good news for the GOP: Ytterberg benefits from the expertise of campaign chairman Beth Isern, a long-time activist and fundraiser who could sell ice to an Eskimo.
Senate District 17
Sen. Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont v. Republican challenger Katie Witt
June 2 Cash on hand: Witt (R) $3,443.98; Shaffer (D) $28,158.35
While this district is still located in Boulder County, it's more conservative than you might think. Witt is a polished social conservative who may gain ground with voters concerned about Shaffer's liberal voting record. Meanwhile, after eight years of George W. Bush, voters may reject Witt's own vision for compassionate conservatism. Marketing will play an important role in this race. If personable Witt can get out and meet enough voters, she may be able to make up the fundraising gap with tough incumbent Schaffer.
Senate District 19
Republican Businesswoman & GOP activist Libby Szabo v. Democrat and State Board of Education member Evie Hudak
June 2 Cash on hand: Szabo (R) $34,223.18; Hudak (D) $22,401.72
This race continues to shape up as the state's top Senate contest to watch with Szabo continuing to utilize her in-district connections to outfund the pro-union Hudak. An anticipated cash infusion late Summer for Hudak from union 527s could hurt Szabo, though she has already benefited from high name ID and independent mail already hitting district mail pieces. The bottom line: Republicans must take back this seat if they have any hope of retaking the Senate in coming years.
Senate District 21
Sen. Betty Boyd, D-Lakewood v. Republican Natalie Menten
Republicans in this district have had trouble locking in a candidate willing to face off with incumbent Boyd and all the union support she is expected to receive. Rumor has it that Republican activist Natalie Menten, who almost singlehandedly took down the Lakewood food tax, will be the third candidate to step up in this district. Menten is known for working her butt off for a cause. Her biggest challenge will be catching up with Boyd's fundraising.
June 2 Cash on hand: Boyd (D) $20,883.74
Senate District 23
Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, v. Democrat Army veteran Joe Whitcomb
June 2 Cash on hand: Mitchell (R) $28,673.45; Whitcomb (D) $7,026.18
Mitchell - respected on both sides of the aisle for his top legal mind and gentle delivery - has long frustrated liberals who want this district more than they want gay marriage (a real sticking point for Mitchell, who has actively opposed it in the past). Enter Whitcomb, a military vet, a DU law student, and out-of-state transplant. While Mitchell likely can't exploit Whitcomb's carpetbagger status in a district where many voters are transplants, he will gain ground by emphasizing a voting record that has been defined by its continued commitment to property rights and small business owners. Whitcomb, meanwhile, will benefit from Tim Gill money. The money chase will be key, as well GOTV efforts. Voters here should anticipate a lot of knocks on their door and even more campaign pieces hitting their mailboxes. While the GOP must take back SD 19 if it wants to retake the reigns of the chamber, it likewise can't lose SD 23.
Senate District 26
Republican and former state Representative Lauri Clapp OR Fellow Republican Jerry Call v. Democrat Linda Newell
Democrat Newell recently joined the race, but the action will likely cool after an expected heated Republican primary in this predominantly red district.
June 2 Cash on had: Clapp (R) $1,680.22; Call (R) $1,686.47
Senate District 28
Sen. Suzanne Williams, D-Aurora, v. Republican Sueyuna Duthie
June 2 Cash on hand: Duthie (R) $1,083.87; Williams (D) $13,893.53
Top House Races to Watch
House District 27
Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada v. Republican John Bodnar
June 2 Cash on hand: Bodnar (R) $7,511.59; Gagliardi (D) $26,444.07
House District 30
Republican Kevin Priola v. Democrat Dave Rose or Mark Nicastle
June 2 Cash on hand: Priola (R) $22,938.12; Rose (D) $3,460.33; Nicastle $2,378.41
House District 31
Rep. Judy Solano, D-Brighton v. Republican Holly Hansen
June 2 Cash on hand: Hansen (R) $20,364.18; Solano (D) $13,134.10
House District 33
Rep. Dianne Primavera, D-Broomfield v. Republican and fiscal conservative Nick Kliebenstein
June 2 Cash on hand: Kliebenstein (R) $7,601.87; Primavera (D) $25,259.15
House District 37
Rep. Spencer Swalm, R-Littleton v. Democrat Diana Holland
June 2 Cash on hand: Swalm (R) $49,467.38; Holland $13,208.84
House District 38
Rep. Joe Rice, D-Littleton v. Republican and Greenwood Village City Councilman Dave Kerber
June 2 Cash on hand: Kerber (R) $35,120.99; Rice (D) $15,158.66
House District 39
Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial v. Democrat Mollie Cullom
June 2 Cash on hand: Balmer (R) $100,889.05; Cullom (D) $12,458.36
House District 50
Rep. Jim Riesberg, D-Greeley v. Republican Scott Helman
June 2 Cash on hand: Helman (R) $407.74; Riesberg (D) $14,081.93
House District 52
Rep. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins v. Republican and former Rep. Bob McCluskey
June 2 Cash on hand: McCluskey (R) $14,609.20; Kefalas (D) $29,849.91
House District 55
Rep. Bernie Buescher, R-Grand Junction v. Republican Businesswoman Laura Bradford
June 2 Cash on hand: Bradford (R) $17,527.58; Buescher $58,314.90
House District 56
Rep. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillion v. Republican challenger Ali Hasan
June 2 Cash on hand: Hasan (R) $27,172.01; Scanlan (D) $3,316.77
House District 62
A primary between Democrats Ed Vigil, the county commissioner, and Dr. Rocky White will determine who will run against Republican Randy Jackson.
June 2 Cash on hand: Jackson (R) $267.17; White (D) $3,740.19; Vigil (D) $100
House District 64
Rep. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh v. Republican Ken Torres
June 2 Cash on hand: Torres (R) N/A; Mckinley (D) no recent reports filed
House Primaries to keep an eye on
House District 6
Republicans: Joshua Sharf (petitioned on to primary ballot) v. Rima Sinclair; Democrats: Liz Adams (Top line on primary ballot) v. Lois Court v. Josh Hanfling
June 2 Cash on hand: Sinclair (R) N/A; Sharf (R) $2,447.83; Court (D) $28,066.21; Hanfling (D) $60,091.45; Adams (D) $24,166.82
House District 15
Rep. Doug Bruce, R-Colorado Springs v. Fellow Republican Mark Waller (Top line on primary ballot)
Bruce is a hero to some and an embarrassment to others. The winner of this tough August primary should breeze through the November election against Democrat Michelle Maksimowicz.
June 2 Cash on Hand: Bruce (R) N/A; Waller (R) $2,474.71; Maksimowicz (D) $586.85
House District 57
Republican Randy Baumgardner v. Republican Daniel Korkowski (Winner will run against Democrat Robert Hagenbuch)
June 2 Cash on hand: Baumgardner (R) $2,142.89; Korkowski (R) $677; Hangenbuch (D) N/A