Photo by @mjb

When it comes to financing their campaigns, incumbents in D.C. are pulling further and further away from their challengers. According to campaign finance reports submitted to the Office of Campaign Finance this week, incumbents in every race on the April 3 ballot are raking in the money and have more tucked away for the next two months of campaigning.

Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) took in another $40,000 and has just over $108,000 left to spend. Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) collected $39,000, and has $212,000 in the bank. Councilmember Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) is finally showing some fundraising life, claiming close to $46,000 and keeping $41,000 on-hand. (She might not make it on the ballot, though.) As for Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), that he is running unopposed didn’t stop him from adding $8,000 to the over $300,000 he’s already raised — and he’s got $86,000 left to spend against the competition he doesn’t have. (As usual, Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry did not file his reports on time, so it’s tough to see where he stands vis-a-vie his challengers.)

In terms of challengers, Ward 4 contender Max Skolnik raised $5,000 and has $10,000 banked, Ward 7 hopeful Kevin Chavous, Jr. took in $6,500 and has $11,000 left, Ward 8 challengers Jacque Patterson and Natalie Williams claimed $4,300 and $4,700, respectively.

Probably the most hotly contested race is now Orange’s, where challengers Sekou Biddle and Peter Shapiro are battling both Orange and each other. Yesterday, former DCist contributor and local political activist Dave Stroup argued that since Shapiro has raised more money, Biddle should bow out. Biddle’s campaign was quick to respond, though, arguing that the former interim councilmember has more small-time and local donors than either Orange or Shapiro.

In Ward 5, it looks like Delano Hunter and Kenyan McDuffie has pulled away in the crowded field, raising $20,000 and $17,000, respectively. And in the race for Shadow Senator, well-heeled challenger Pete Ross has spent just over $26,000 of the $104,000 he loaned his own campaign, but, oddly enough, some of that spending has gone for stipends to himself.