Donavan Raises $940,000, Roberti $1.1 million

House Speaker Chris , D-Meriden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 5th Congressional district, announced this week that he has raised more than $232,000 in the first quarter of 2012. In roughly ten months of fundraising, Donovan said he has raised more than $940,000 from more than 6,400 individual donors, and has more than $610,000 on hand.

In his best quarter yet, collected donations from more than 2,600 individual donors, again displaying the broad enthusiasm that his campaign enjoys. With an average individual donation of just $61.64, Donovan's campaign is powered by small-dollar donors who will volunteer their time and effort to help him win in August and November. In this quarter, and in the campaign overall, more than 80% of the money raised was raised from within Connecticut.

"The broad support of families from across the Connecticut is the engine that powers Chris Donovan's campaign," said Donovan campaign manager Josh Nassi.  “Connecticut's working families know that Chris is the candidate fighting for them - to create good jobs with strong benefits, to protect Social Security and Medicare from Republican attacks, and to make sure they are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Their enthusiastic support demonstrates that Chris is the best candidate to ensure the 5th district seat remains Democratic in November - and that they will fight alongside Chris through November and beyond."

who is vying with Donovan for the Democrats’ backing to seek the 5th District seat, also announced this week that he has raised more than $1.1 million in campaign donations. Roberti’s campaign has raised a total of $1,102,386. In the first quarter of 2012, Roberti raised $144,964, and it has $528,770 cash on hand, according to his campaign.

“I want to thank all the people who have contributed to my campaign,” said. “With their support, we are building the infrastructure for a campaign that will win the Democratic primary in August and the general election in November.”

The 5th District race is being viewed as one of the most hotly contested political battles in Connecticut this year because there are no incumbents running, leaving the field wide open to prospective candidates.