When State Rep. Kathleen Curry bolted the Democratic Party in January, she knew she would have her work cut out when she sought re-election in sprawling House District 61.
If running as an unaffiliated candidate isn’t hard enough, throw in the fact that her name will not be on the ballot, and she has a double-whammy to overcome.
Whether she can do it is anyone’s guess. What is for sure is that she is out-raising her Republican and Democratic rivals almost 3-1, even when you combine their numbers.
So far, she has raised nearly $35,000 and has taken a bank loan for another $10,000. In August alone, she raised $6,715 and now has nearly $30,000 in the bank. She’s done it with no contribution larger than $200.
Republican Luke Korkowski, of Crested Butte, has raised just over $4,000 altogether, with just under $900 coming in August. He has a little more than $1,000 in the bank.
Democrat Roger Ben Wilson has raised just over $8,000 in the cycle, a little more than $5,500 in August. He has just over $5,000 in the bank. Wilson has given the campaign just over $2,000 of that total, and U.S. Rep. Jared Polis has donated $400 to the campaign.
Asked if she would become a Republican if she is elected, Curry said she would not. “I have no interest in declaring any party affiliation,” she said.
Serving in the State Legislature last year as the only unaffiliated member, she said she found that it didn’t make much difference in terms of her effectiveness.
“Most of my colleagues in the House are more concerned with the merits of a bill than they are with who brought it. Neither party will have an overwhelming majority next session, so my vote will be courted, I can guarantee you that,” she said.
She said there are more unaffiliated voters in the district than are registered with either party and that she thinks her chances of re-election are good.
“I have to get the word out on how to vote for me, that is the biggest thing,” she said.
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