The Colorado Republican Party‘s recent public spat over finances has exposed a deeper crisis within the state’s GOP, mirroring a nationwide trend.
Like many state Republican parties, Colorado is feeling the pinch of the national party’s Trump-centric fundraising strategy, which prioritizes the former president’s legal fees over local party building.
This shortsighted approach has left state Republican operations broke or teetering on the brink, undermining their ability to compete in the 2024 election cycle.
The Republican National Committee’s (RNC) deal with Trump’s Save America PAC requires donations to flow through the PAC, which has already paid over $50 million towards Trump’s legal fees in 2023.
Trump’s Legal Woes Create Financial Crisis for State Republican Parties
This arrangement has starved state parties of crucial funding, forcing them to seek outside megadonors and radicalize their policy positions to secure funding.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has learned from its past mistakes and is investing heavily in state parties, directing $23 million towards local party building ahead of the 2022 midterms. This strategic investment helped stop the “Red Wave” and positioned Democrats for success in 2024.
The GOP’s financial woes are particularly concerning given the predicted $10 billion price tag for the 2024 campaign season.
With Democratic Senate hopefuls raising a staggering $181 million so far this year – nearly three times what Republican candidates have managed – the GOP’s fundraising struggles threaten to shrink its influence and imperil its chances in key races.
As the party’s financial cracks become public fractures, Democrats are poised to capitalize on the GOP’s historic weakness this November.
