Two Republicans running in a crowded special election for Louisiana’s 5th District seat have each raised more than $560,000, according to reports filed recently with the Federal Elections Commission.

State Rep. Jay Morris raised $566,000 — which includes a $295,000 loan to his campaign — and reported $188,000 in cash on hand at the end of the pre-primary period. State Sen. Neil Riser raised $561,000 and reported $210,000 in cash on hand.

Riser and Morris are running to replace GOP Rep. Rodney Alexander, who resigned from Congress to take a post in Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration last month. They are two of 14 candidates running in the wide-open Oct. 19 special primary.

Other candidates who reported pre-primary fundraising hauls include:

• Former Rep. Clyde Holloway, a Republican who served in Congress from 1987 to 1993, raised $245,500 in his comeback bid, including a $112,000 loan to his campaign. Holloway reported $145,000 in cash on hand going into the primary.
• Former state Rep. Weldon Russell, a Democrat, raised $49,000, $43,000 of which is a loan to his campaign. He reported $4,500 in cash on hand.
• State Rep. Robert Johnson, a Democrat, raised $122,000 and reported about $63,000 in cash on hand.
• Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo, a Democrat, raised $17,000 and reported $15,500 in cash on hand.

With so many candidates running in this special election, the contest is virtually guaranteed to lead to a runoff, which is scheduled for Nov. 16.

Louisiana’s 5th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.