By Mary O’Leary, Staff Reporter

There are eight major party candidates in the race for Connecticut’s 5th District seat in the U.S. Congress, and six of them have or could make a claim to be leading in the realm of fundraising and campaign finance.

How is that possible, and who’s really in the lead?

First of all, fundraising numbers for the 1st Quarter that ended March 31 should be known any day now, so all of this could change. But as of the last reporting period, at the end of the 4th Quarter:

Democrat Dan Roberti led all candidates in total money raised over the course of his campaign, at $957,362.

But Democrat Elizabeth Esty had the most cash on hand at $576,541.

And because candidates entered the race and started fundraising at different times, others can claim to be raising money at a faster rate.

Chris Donovan, for example, bested both Roberti and Esty in the 4th Quarter, taking in $204,691 to Roberti’s $191,030 and Esty’s $176,412.

On the Republican side, Lisa Wilson-Foley can claim “most raised” over the course of the campaign, at $822,249.

But so can Justin Bernier. If you take away the $400,000 the millionaire Wilson-Foley has loaned her own campaign, Bernier has the edge, at $495,253 vs. Wilson-Foley’s $422,249.

And like Donovan, Andrew Roraback, can claim to be raising funds at a much faster rate than his opponents, especially since he was the very last candidate to enter the race. Roraback brought in $237,687 in the 4th Quarter, more than any Republican or Democrat, and more than double his closest rival on the Republican side, Bernier, at $113,488 in the 4th Quarter.

Roraback’s rivals might hit back that Roraback was picking the “low-hanging fruit” of all of his most ardent supporters since the 4th Quarter was the first time he started raising money.

We’ll know how true that is when 1st Quarter numbers are released.

Is there a statement by a candidate in the 5th District that you want Fact Checked? Contact Mary O’Leary at moleary@nhregister.com.