Republican Sixth Congressional District candidate Will Brooke announced today that he raised just under $320,000 in the first fundraising period, which ended Dec. 31.

That puts him just about on par with what we’ve seen from other GOP candidates so far, including Rep. Paul DeMarco ($360k), Dr. Chad Mathis ($350k – but not sure how much he donated himself) and Gary Palmer ($250k).

“The support we have received from local business leaders and Republican donors is both humbling and exciting,” Brooke said. “Most Alabamians from folks sitting around the kitchen table to business CEOs want to see the politics-as-usual change in Washington. They are tired of dysfunctional government and are excited about new ideas and new conservative leadership.”

Here are some key numbers from the Brooke campaign:

• The total amount raised in the first period was $317,954
• Brooke has raised over $50,000 per week since entering the race
• $17,200 came from PACs, the rest from individual donors
• 98 percent of the money raised came from inside Alabama
• All of the money raised is for the primary

Brooke has the added advantage of having deep pockets himself. It’s likely that he could personally match or exceed the amount of money he receives from donors.

The AL-06 race is shaping up to be an expensive proposition for congressional hopefuls in central Alabama. Over $1.25 million has already been raised by these four candidates. A fifth, Tom Vigneulle, was not yet in the race when the first fundraising period ended.