Democrat Terri Sewell, a Birmingham attorney, leads all other candidates in the amount of money raised for the Alabama District 7 congressional race.

Sewell has raised $296,955 from April 1 through June 30, according to the last campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission July 15.

Sewell is followed by state Rep. Earl Frederick Hilliard Jr., D-Birmingham, who has raised $83,075.21 in this cycle.

Democrat Sheila Smoot, a Jefferson County commissioner from Birmingham, has raised $34,613, according to FEC reports.

Former Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr., a Democrat, has raised $12,900 since his campaign began June 1.

“We’ve seen a lot more in pledges,” Perkins said.

Of his $12,900, Perkins has spent $500, leaving him with $12,400 cash on hand.

Those from Selma contributing to Perkins’ campaign include: Johnson’s Paint & Body Shop, $100, $600, $500 and $600.

Of Sewell’s $296,955, she has spent $49,800 and has $247,154 cash on hand. Sewell received 384 individual contributions.

Those from Selma, Sewell’s hometown, included: Loudell Moore Bryant, $500, Selma City Schools/educator; Harry W. Gamble Jr., $250, Gamble Gamble & Calame/attorney; Donald G. Jefferson, $1,000, state Dept. of Education/education administrator; Catesby Jones, $250, First Cahawba Bank/president; Thomas APR Jones, $500, State of Alabama/circuit judge; Julian Parke Keith, $250, Speir-Keith Land Co. LLC/real estate; Leroy Maxwell, $500, self/optometrist; Holland J. Powell, $1,051, $211, $471, Development Benefit Group/CEO; Harold Speir, $250, Speir-Keith Land Co., LLC/real estate; and Nancy Gardner Sewell, $225, retired/retired educator.

A good deal of her money has come from Birmingham, where she works and lives.

In a prepared statement, Sewell said, “We are off to a fast and strong start and I’m honored at the broad coalition of support that we’ve been able to attract from across the district. Supporters are energetic and optimistic about what we can accomplish for the 7th Congressional District. Despite the struggling economy, people know that we can create new jobs, improve public schools and expand healthcare. That’s what I’m gong to focus on in Congress and continue to move west Alabama forward.”

Hilliard has spent $40,560.98 of his cash, leaving him $45,514.23 at reporting time.

Those from Selma contributing to Hilliard’s campaign are: William Cosby, $1,000, The Cosby Co. LLC/lobbyist; and The Cosby Co. LLC $1,000.

Kobi Little, Hilliard’s campaign manager, said, “Our camp is right on target.”

Hilliard’s fundraising efforts have kept the campaign competitive throughout the quarter. Little stressed his candidate’s accessibility and responsiveness to the public as a key to drawing financial support and eventually ballots at the polling places.

Although Smoot is in third place, she has managed to spend only $10,057 and have $24,555 cash left.

Smoot has received no contributions from Selma voters.

The congressional seat is left vacant by incumbent U.S. Rep. Artur Davis’ decision to run for governor of Alabama in 2010. Davis is a Democrat from Birmingham.