PORTLAND – With the primary election just seven weeks away, money is pouring in at record pace into the coffers of the six Democrats and two Republicans vying for their party’s 1st District nomination.

According to the most recent financial reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, more than $3.2 million has been contributed to the candidates as of the end of March. The primary will take place on June 10 and the general election five months later.

The bulk of the campaign money went to the Democratic side with the former president of Common Cause, Chellie Pingree of North Haven. topping her party’s slate of candidates with better than $1.1 million in contributions, double that of her closest competitor.

All told, the Democrats received more than $2.8 million since the campaign to replace incumbent Rep. Tom Allen, who is stepping down to challenge Sen. Susan Collins in the fall, got under way last year.

Republican candidates reported receiving $456,581 during the election cycle with Dean Scontras, a businessman from Eliot, drawing $273,883 from contributors, followed by former state Sen. Charles Summers of Scarborough with $182,698. Summers is currently serving in Iraq as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and has not been actively campaigning.

As for the other Democrats in the race, state Sen. Ethan Strimling of Portland finished second behind Pingree with $501,125 in contributions. Strimling was followed by Maine National Guard Judge Advocate Adam Cote of Stanford, who raised $464,953; York County District Attorney Mark Lawrence, who reported contributions of $416,439; former state senator and policy associate at the Muskie School of Public Service Michael Brennan of Portland, who reported contributions of $211,512; and Dr. Stephen Meister of Portland, who reported receiving $88,850.

According to the reports for the period from Jan. 1 through March 31 filed by the FEC’s April 15 deadline, Pingree again led the other Democrats for that quarter with contributions of $338,687. She was followed by Strimling with $164,099, Cote with $160,060, Lawrence with $90,187, Brennan with $59,102 and Meister with $42,550.

For the same period, Scontras reported contributions of $76,897 with Summers reporting contributions of $69,016 for the Republicans.

Just as campaign money is rolling in, it is also being spent in record numbers. According to the first quarter of 2008 financial reports, Pingree has spent $552,277 to date and has $569,958 cash on hand, Strimling has spent $281,479 and has $219,545 cash on hand, Cote has spent $187,256 and has $277,697 cash on hand, Lawrence has spent $199,893 and has $216,545 cash on hand, Brennan has spent $120,996 and has $90,515 cash on hand, and Meister has spent $83,244 and has $5,605 cash on hand.

Scontras has spent $223,698 since the beginning of his campaign and has $50,184 cash on hand. Summers has spent $76,471 and has $106,240 cash on hand.

According to the reports, Pingree has raised $1,089,363 through individual contributions, $26,800 from political action committees and $2,900 from herself.

Strimling has raised $469,900 from individuals, $1,750 from PACs and $2,300 from himself.

Cote has raised $439,915 from individuals, $19,500 from PACs and $1,895 from himself.

Lawrence has raised $415,240 from individuals, nothing from PACs and $819 from himself.

Brennan has raised $206,439 from individuals, $1,000 from PACs and $3,050 from himself.

Meister has raised $52,244 from individuals, nothing from PACs and $36,607 from himself.

Scontras has raised $224,823 from individuals, $3,500 from PACs and $46,552 from himself.

Summers has raised $179,698 from individuals and $1,000 from PACs.