Boyd Peterson has a $8,200 to $5,200 edge over Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, in House District 64. Peterson got $5,000 from John Beck of Phoenix, Ariz.

All of Lockhart's money is from PACs and corporations like Civil Science in Lehi, $1,000, Comcast, EnergySolutions, ATK Launch Systems, Monsanto, Medco Health Systems and Imagine Learning.

Ken Peay leads Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, $3,500 to $2,600. Madsen began the election cycle with that money left over from his last race.

"This is a sign of major disenchantment with the status quo," Davis said in a prepared statement. "Putting up money to support these challengers really shows people are willing to support who they believe in."

"Congratulations," Monnahan said Tuesday. "If they've done that, good for them. I don't think our candidates have really started yet."

In fact, Republican incumbents also faced a large slate of intra-party challengers. That precluded the party from giving money to its candidates until Saturday's GOP convention did away with all party battles. With no primaries to worry about, the party now can begin to distribute a war chest that could be in excess of $100,000.

"We have enough to give our candidates a goodly amount of money," said Monnahan, declining to reveal the exact number.

Davis believed strong early fundraising provided the Democrats with needed credibility.

"The media, donors, voters and activists take a candidate more seriously when they start to see a serious fundraising effort," he said.

The Utah County Democratic Party Convention is scheduled to begin Saturday at 9 a.m. at Dixon Middle School, 750 W. 200 North, Provo.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com