A crowded Democratic primary to fill the seat of former Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., has brought out almost $2.5 million Democratic dollars in the 5th Congressional District race.

State Senator Katherine Clark has taken the lead in fundraising for the October 15th primary. Clark reported
 she raised $623,747 and spent $632,315 from 7/1 to 9/30, leaving $393,605 cash on hand as of 930. Clark loaned her committee $250,000. Contributions included $2,600 from Elizabeth Nabel, president of Brigham and Women’s Health Care. The committee spent $134,018 on television advertising.In other reports, Women Vote! reported it paid the Pivot Group $26,618 on 10/2 for mail house work as an independent expenditure supporting Katherine Clark. They also paid $1,810 to Brushfire Strategies for phone banks.

State Representative Carl Sciortino Jr. reported raising $265,712 and spending $254,001 from 7/1 to 9/25, leaving $285,032 cash on hand as of 9/25. Contributions included $2,000 from the campaign committee of Rep. Jared Polis. In the first six months of 2013, the Carl Sciortino Committee raised $355,270 and spent $81,949. In a later filing, a $1,000 contribution from Norman Lear was reported. The committee spent $87,944 on advertising and media buys.

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian reported he raised $609,580 and spent $211,632 from 7/1 to 9/25, leaving $690,290 cash on hand. Contributions included $10,400 from Edward Eskandarian (operating partner, Fireman Capital Partners, MA) and Nancy Eskandarian; and $700 from David Castagnetti (lobbyist, Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti). The committee spent $35,000 on printing, mail and postage.

State Senator Karen Spilka reported
 raising $207,548 and spending $276,170 from 7/1 to 9/25, leaving $132,360 cash on hand as of 9/25. Contributions included $2,6000 from Colin Angle (CEO of iRobot). In another filing, a contribution from William Haney (president, Blu Homes) was reported. The committee spent $63,268 on direct mail production, among other expenses. In an earlier report, Spilka reported raising $204,870 from 5/18 to 6/30.

State Senator William Brownsberger reported
 raising $215,048 and spending $263,836 from 7/1 to 9/30, leaving $238,979 cash on hand as of 9/30. Contributions included $2,600 from Gregory Pope (economist, RTI International). In another filing, a contribution of $1,000 was reported from Richard Phelps (chairman & CEO of Phelps Industries). The committee spent $31,250 on “reimbursement for housing costs.”