Two Colorado state senators facing a historic recall election next week are now also going against a ramped up financial contribution from the National Rifle Association.
A campaign finance report released Tuesday shows the NRA has increased their support of the recall efforts of Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and state Sen. Angela Giron of Pueblo by an additional $250,000. The Fairfax, Va.-based gun rights group had already spent more than $100,000 in an effort to defeat the lawmakers bringing the NRA's total contribution to over $361,700.
"It was a grassroots effort for a little while, but when that didn't take at all, it was clear they were getting money from outside. And I wasn't the least bit surprised the NRA was behind it," Senate President Morse told CNN shortly after the legislative session ended.
The increased contribution came on the heels of a $350,000 donation from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the two democrats facing recall last Wednesday.
Morse and Giron are facing Colorado's first recall at the state level on Sept. 10 in response to their support of a package of new gun control measures that were signed into state law earlier this year including limits on the size of ammunition magazines and universal background checks for all firearm sales and transfers.
As of Wednesday, 2,800 Pueblo voters have already cast their early voting ballots but according to The Colorado Springs Gazette, polls have yet to open in Morse's district.
"It's a huge concern for us," Elena Nunez, executive director of Colorado Common Cause told the Gazette. "It's the first time in many, many years voters won't be able to get mail ballots and that's created a lot of confusion and uncertainty about where people can vote."
Next Tuesday in both El Paso and Pueblo Counties, voting centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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