Denver is on track for one of its biggest elections in years as 66 candidates run for 16 elected positions in city government. But a few challengers have pulled away from the pack, a Denver Post analysis shows.

Money isn’t everything — but even in local races, it’s important. Unknown candidates need to spend money to get noticed in the May 7 election. And their fundraising totals can show political momentum, taking the place of polling data that usually isn’t available in city races.

“The average person does not know who these people are. And so to cut through the clutter of everything, they have to spend,” said Halisi Vinson, a local political organizer and former candidate. “I cannot see someone winning a typical race for under $75,000. Unless they’ve got this volunteer ground game that we don’t see, what are they going to do?”

As the March 13 filing deadline for candidates approaches, here’s a race-by-race breakdown. The full campaign contributions data set is embedded in the story online at www.denverpost.com. The totals may differ slightly from those detailed in fundraising reports due to returned donations and other changes.

Closest races

East Denver’s District 5 has two challengers raising significant money. Challenger Amanda Sawyer has reported about $68,000, compared with about $22,000 raised by incumbent Mary Beth Susman since June 2015.

However, Susman has more than $50,000 in the bank, thanks to leftover money from her previous run.

Sawyer is partially self-funding her campaign, giving herself about $40,000 in December. She describes Susman as “out of touch” because she supported a failed rezoning that would have allowed 23 condos to be built along Holly Street. Susman has made mobility and urbanism her focus since her election in 2011.

A second challenger, Michele Fry, also has raised about $23,000 through January, though $16,000 of that was self-donated. Fry calls for government accountability, “economically diverse development” and greater transit investment.

Northwest Denver’s District 1 is looking like a scramble. There are seven candidates with active bank accounts — and no incumbent, since Councilman Rafael Espinoza dropped out. Firefighter Mike Somma, running on a public safety and public employees platform, leads with more than $33,000 raised. But the other candidates are close behind, with Amanda Sandoval, David Sabados and Scott Durrah raising at least $10,000.

Central Denver’s District 10 might have Councilman Wayne New a bit nervous. Two of his challengers — Chris Hinds and Tony Smith — are into the $40,000 range, and Antonio Mendez has picked up $18,000. But New has nearly doubled his nearest challenger, and he has $57,000 in the bank. Hinds’ platform focuses on transportation and affordable housing; Smith’s on neighborhood preservation and affordability; and Mendez’s on infrastructure, traffic and crime.

West Denver’s District 2 is another open seat: Councilman Paul López has reached his term limit. Among the four challengers, Jamie Torres and Veronica Barela are out-raising their competitors, at about $20,000 and $29,000, respectively. Barela is a longtime figure on the west side, including as the longtime leader of NEWSED Community Development Corp.; Torres also has deep neighborhood roots and works as deputy director of Human Rights & Community Partnerships for Denver. Both focus on housing and culture, among other priorities.

Northeast Denver’s District 7 shows a significant challenger for incumbent Chris Herndon. Blair Taylor, one of five challengers, has raised about $24,000 compared with about $52,000 for the incumbent. She was inspired to run by the Fairfax land-swap affair, which focused on concerns about development and green space.

Two other candidates have shown broad bases in the race: Patrick Thibault, who emphasizes renters’ rights, had about 111 contributions. Miguel Cabellos-Ruiz, who grew up in Montbello, positions himself as progressive alternative with a focus on social justice. He reported 88 contributions — but he and Thibault don’t have as much money because their average donation amounts are smaller.

In North Denver’s District 9, incumbent Albus Brooks has a strong financial advantage — he has raised about $194,000, more than any other non-mayoral candidate. But one of his challengers, Candi CdeBaca, is also among the strongest citywide fundraisers, reporting about $36,000 in her “people’s champion” campaign. Both candidates have broad bases, with more than 400 individual contributions each.

In the citywide at-large races, challenger Tony Pigford has posted $44,000 in fundraising on a platform that ranges from civil rights to housing and transportation. But he trails both of the incumbents, Debbie Ortega and Robin Kniech.

In the race for clerk and recorder, Peg Perl has raised about $30,000, while Paul López has reported about $52,000 in this cycle as he attempts to switch from his council seat.

The safest incumbents are in south Denver: Paul Kashmann and Kevin Flynn face no current challengers. Council President Jolon Clark has a single challenger who has raised $140.

The mayor’s race has attracted the most funding by far — a combined nearly $2 million so far. Mayor Michael Hancock has collected more than half that money. Former challenger Kayvan Khalatbari had the broadest base of any candidate except Hancock, collecting donations from more than 1,000 people. Khalatbari suspended his campaign in October but has said he could reactivate it.