A Republican state lawmaker was paid thousands of taxpayer dollars in mileage reimbursement for trips to and from the Colorado Capitol during the legislative sessions in 2024 and 2025 all while charging the cost of gas every few days to his campaign.
A Colorado Sun analysis of state Rep. Ryan Armagost’s campaign finance and mileage reimbursement records shows the Berthoud Republican charged nearly $1,000 in gas station trips to his campaign during the 2024 legislative session, as well as more than $100 in car washes. He also collected more than $4,700 in mileage reimbursement from the state for his trips to and from the Capitol that year.
In 2025, Armagost, who until recently was the No. 3 Republican in the House, charged about $750 in gas to his campaign from the start of the legislative session through the end of March, in addition to more than $100 in car washes. He was paid nearly $5,000 in mileage reimbursement from the state during the entire legislative session, which ended in May.
Armagost’s campaign ended March, the end of a campaign finance quarter, roughly $150 in debt. The last time he reported paying for gas out of his campaign account was April 22 after receiving an infusion of a few hundred dollars from his campaign compliance consultants and from the political action committee belonging to House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs.
Armagost recently announced he’s going to resign in September to pursue a job and personal relationship in Arizona.
Armagost sought reimbursement for just under 8,000 miles of driving during each of the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions at 60 cents per mile in 2024 and 63 cents per mile in 2025. The reimbursement is meant to cover the cost of gas and vehicle wear and tear. But Armagost said it wasn’t enough.
“Tolls, gas and oil changes cost me an average of $1,200/month during my yearlong travel to and from the Capitol,” he said in a written statement. “I burn through tires annually with this commute as well as significant wear and tear on my vehicle in the daily, 94-mile round trip.”
He provided a receipt showing hundreds of dollars in toll charges during the 2025 session. (Armagost said he doesn’t have a toll transponder and is charged by his license plate, which is much more expensive.) He said the overall cost was “unattainable for a single person in Colorado’s cost of living on this salary and requirements for leadership responsibilities.”
“As a disabled veteran and legislator making $43,000 annually, I am unable to pay for this commute and career, which is why I was seeking other employment that led me to now moving to Arizona,” he said.
Armagost’s frequent gas station trips charged to his campaign started after his first legislative session in 2023.
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State law allows lawmakers to use their campaign funds to pay for work expenses. Some use their campaign accounts to pay legislative aides and for day-to-day expenses, like food and haircuts. But The Sun couldn’t find another example of a lawmaker using their campaign to pay for gas to and from the Capitol and then filing for mileage reimbursement from the state.
The Office of Legislative Legal Services says it doesn’t provide guidance to lawmakers on whether they should charge gas to their campaigns and then seek mileage reimbursement.
Armagost also embroiled in interpersonal controversy
Armagost’s resignation also comes as he was facing backlash from Democrats for allegedly taking a photo of a state representative on the House floor without her knowledge or permission. The picture was then circulated in April by an anonymous, conservative social media account and used to ridicule her appearance.
The account said the lawmaker was dressed like an escort. Other users piled on, making vulgar, sexual remarks and calling her a prostitute.
“From this post, things spiraled pretty quickly to rape threats, death threats,” said state Rep. Yara Zokaie, a Fort Collins Democrat. “What I would say to Rep. Armagost and to others across the aisle who have targeted me is that I cannot be bullied. I want to be clear: That was the intent here.”
She alleged the photograph and ensuing harassment were meant to have a chilling effect on her participation in politics and participation by other women of color.
After the online harassment began, Democrats used security camera footage from the Colorado House to determine who took the photo. They say the footage showed it was Armagost. Democrats then confronted House Republicans about what happened.
Armagost, through a spokesperson, declined to comment on the claims about the photo.