Colorado delegates turn to social media to help fund convention trips

Democrats Judi Ingelido and Michael Perez will be in Philadelphia to witness Hillary Clinton accept the Democratic nomination later this month.

“I feel so privileged to not only be there as an individual, but to be there representing the 5th congressional district,” Perez said.

These delegates and others in both parties are turning to GoFundMe to help pay for costs including airfare and hotels.

“These conventions are part of business,” Ingelido said. “I’m separating it from Republican or Democrat, it doesn’t matter. The people, the businesses in this city, see this as an opportunity so you just expect things to be expensive.”

The trip will cost upwards of $6,000. The delegates are getting small donations. They say they’re grateful to use this technology to reach out to a large network of people.

“It’s a way to reach certain people that we normally would not be able to get a hold of,” Perez said.

Ingelido raised her goal of $1,500, but no amount of money would keep her away from experiencing this moment.

“This is my only time that I’ve ever wanted to be at a national convention,” she said. “It’s once in a lifetime, it’s a dream come true so I want to be there when history is made.”

Colorado will send 37 delegates to the RNC, and 78 to the DNC, including 12 superdelegates.