Legislative candidates in El Paso County have raised almost $500,000 so far this election season, most of it for the June 26 primary.

Thus far, candidates have collected $454,049 in 10 campaigns in El Paso County, and $278,469 has been spent on campaign flyers, signs, stickers, and more, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. And all but one district are safe Republican-held seats.

“To some extent, it’s in lieu of the general election,” Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli said of the June primary. “So this is the election.”

The campaign finance reports were as of May 30.

At the top of the primary list is House District 19, where incumbent Republicans Amy Stephens and Marsha Looper have locked horns. The two candidates have raised more than $130,000, and have spent even more than that — $142,000. (Looper took out an $8,000 loan.)

“It’s an expensive race because you have two incumbents,” said Looper. “It’s unfortunate that we all have to spend so much money, but you have to, when you have so many special interest groups out there.”

Next on the list is Senate District 10, where Republican Rep. Larry Liston is facing non-profit executive Owen Hill, who nearly knocked off a high-powered Democrat two years ago — Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs.

Hill, who is backed by social conservatives, has pulled in $43,049. Liston, who’s supported by the business community, has raised $61,429.

In House District 18, incumbent Democrat Pete Lee is being challenged by first-timer Republican Jennifer George. But though their race won’t be decided until November, they’ve together raised $104,000 so far — Lee has pulled in $41,815 and George has raised $63,018.

After that, the numbers drop off significantly. The next closest contest is a general election race, like Lee’s and George’s. In House District 17, incumbent Rep. Mark Barker, R-Colorado Springs, is being challenged by Democrat Tony Exum, a former local fire department battalion chief.

Barker has raised $27,323, and Exum has raised $14,723. And because legislative reapportionment last year changed the registration numbers in the district, it’s not as Republican a district as it once was.

And because Republicans control the House of Representatives by only a single seat, a lot of money is expected to be shoveled into competitive districts like Barker’s and Lee’s.

“Come September and October, you could see hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into these races,” said Ciruli. “And this is the place that you make your investment, if you’re an interest group.”

Raised in other legislative districts:

HD 14: Republican Dan Nordberg: $17,537

HD 15: Rep. Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs: $16,875

HD 16: Rep. Janak Joshi, R-Colorado Springs: $2,600

HD 20: Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs: $20,842; Democrat Michael Goldsborough: no documents filed

HD 21: Republican Lois Landgraf: $5,817; Republican Albert Sweet: $450

SD 12: Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs: $8,157