Face The State has obtained a letter (PDF) in which state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, asks U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey to take part in his town hall meeting planned for Aug. 19 in Fort Collins. Garnder is one of two Republicans hoping to take on Markey in next year's midterm election.

State Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, still has a long way to go before possibly facing Congresswoman Betsy Markey, D-Fort Collins, at the ballot box next year. But that's not stopping him walking the congressional walk.

Markey has been reluctant to hold open town hall meetings with her constituents during the August recess. Gardner, one of two Republicans currently vying to replace her, is stepping up to the plate and will hold his own, including one in Markey's home town.

Fort Collins City Councilman Diggs Brown is currently on active duty as a major in the Army National Guard, serving in Africa. He's also running for Congress in the 4th congressional district - in a way. Political consultants and activists are keeping the fires burning on a campaign effort that is set to go from simmer to boil this fall.

The "Draft Diggs for Congress" PAC this afternoon announced its fundraising numbers for the second quarter of 2009, having brought in roughly $23,000 in receipts.

State Rep. Cory Gardner's campaign for Congress announced this morning it raised more than $200,000 in the first seven weeks after entering the race for the 4th CD. Fundraising reports for all federal candidates are due to elections officials by July 15 for the quarter ending June 30, but it is typical for campaigns to announce totals ahead of their official filings.

Today marks the end of the 2nd quarter, and candidates for political office are scrambling to bring in last minute cash to pump up their July campaign finance reports. Among them is Tom Lucero, a CU Regent and one of two announced GOP contenders in the 4th congressional district. In an e-mail sent at 4:30 this afternoon, Lucero is getting aggressive with his fundraising, albeit a little late in the day.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey claims to read bills prior to voting in Congress, but it's unlikely she had the time to do so before voting for federal "cap and trade" energy legislation Friday.

Dick Wadhams, chairman of the Colorado Republican Party, had harsh words for U.S. Reps. Betsy Markey and John Salazar, who have been silent about whether they support the “Cap and Trade” proposal, which will be voted on in Congress today.

“It’s time for these two gutless Democrats to take a side for Colorado families and small business by opposing ‘Cap and Tax’ job losses, higher taxes and higher energy costs,” Wadhams said in a release Thursday afternoon.

After months of speculation that he would jump into the 2010 GOP primary race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District, state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, has now made it official.

Incumbency has its advantages.

In the already heated race to oust Rep. Betsy Markey in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, Republicans are trailing far behind the freshman incumbent Democrat by six figures.

It's no secret Betsy Markey will face a tough election in 2010. Republicans in the traditionally GOP-heavy 4th Congressional District began lining up to challenge her even before she was sworn in last month. Not to be outdone, Markey's fundraising gurus are hard at work telling Coloradans to "stay warm" and to also remember to "bundle money for Betsy!"

Newly elected U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey isn't in a hurry to establish a presence in Colorado's 4th Congressional District but Republicans vying to challenge her in 2010 are already lining up. Rumored to be among them is state Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, although he has yet to formalize his plans.

University of Colorado Regent Tom Lucero, R-Johnstown, has filed papers with the Federal Election Commission declaring his intent to run for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in 2010.

A weekend Associated Press report naming potential candidates for Colorado's 4th Congressional District in 2010 missed at least two top contenders. The seat, now in play after Democrat Betsy Markey knocked off incumbent Republican Marilyn Musgrave this month, had previously been in GOP hands for nearly four decades.