However, before Lynch can go to Congress, he has to beat eight other contenders in the crowded race for the Ninth.

Since supposed front-runner Max Kennedy dropped out of the race in June citing family concerns, the field of declared candidates has expanded quickly.

State Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton), Sen. Cheryl Jacques (D-Needham), Sen. Brian Joyce (D-Milton) and Lynch are considered the most competitive candidates at this point. But William Ferguson and housing activist John E. Taylor declared their candidacies last week, joining former Assistant U.S. Attorney William Sinnott to complete the Democratic primary field.

Republican candidates Sen. JoAnn Sprague (R-Walpole) and Bill McKinney are considered long shots.

Show Me The Money

Thus far, Joyce has dwarfed all of his opponents in fund-raising, but others are quickly catching up.

The Associated Press reported last week that the Joyce campaign had already raised $600,000 to the $575,000 raised by runner-up Lynch, who now hopes to benefit from the fund-raising and strategy skills of Democratic political operative Michael Whouley, a Dorchester native.

Pacheco and Jacques have raised $200,000 each and both Taylor and Sprague are hovering around the $100,000 mark.