Facing Three Primary Challengers, Moulton Leads Money Race

SALEM, MA — Despite a short-lived run for president, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) had $366,881.71 in his campaign war chest at the end of the third quarter, according to campaign finance reports released this week. That was more than six times the money all of his likely challengers in next year's Democratic primary had raised combined.

Moulton's presidential campaign also raised $2.25 million, according to the filings, which were due on Tuesday and covered donations and expenditures through Sept. 30. The campaign spent $2.19 million of that during Moulton's run, which ended in August.

Three Democrats — Salem City Councilor Lisa Peterson, D. Nathaniel Mulcahy and Jamie Belsito-Zahlaway — have announced they will run against Moulton in the primary. A third challenger, Matthew Mixon, is running as an independent.

Peterson, seen as Moulton's most viable opponent in the Democratic primary, had $21,725.33 on hand as of Sept. 30. Belsito-Zahlaway, of Topsfield, had $26,560.09 on handas of Sept. 30. Belsito-Zahlaway, who was previously registered as an unenrolled voter, backed Republican Richard Tisei when he challenged Moulton in 2014.

Mulcahy had raised $6,363.53 as of Sept. 30. Mulcahy describes himself as a progressive Democrat, and a scientist with an interest in coastal ecology. Mixon, of Billerica, did not submit the quarterly report, which was due on Tuesday to the Federal Election Commission.