Brookline's preferred candidate in the Norfolk County district attorney race is getting outspent nearly 2-to-1.

Djuna Perkins, a former prosecutor endorsed by two Brookline Select Board members, leads all candidates among local donors with $7,902 from 25 Brookline contributors, according to OCPF records analyzed by Brookline.News. Former federal prosecutor Adam Deitch follows with $6,764 from 17 Brookline donors, and Greg Connor, a former top deputy to outgoing DA Michael Morrissey who resigned in March to run, drew $3,900 from nine.

The overall fundraising picture looks different.

Deitch leads the field with $265,889 raised. More than 57% of his money came from out-of-state contributors, including $2,000 from Karen Read and donations from her family and defense attorneys. No other candidate received a majority of funds from outside Massachusetts. Deitch told Brookline.News the national support reflects people "shocked by what they've seen" in Norfolk County who "believe I'm the person to bring about the change we need."

Connor ranks second at $240,305, powered largely by attorneys ($83,751) and organized labor, including PAC contributions and direct donations from unions representing electrical workers, ironworkers and Teamsters. Robert Jubinville, who served six terms on the Governor's Council from 2012 to 2023, has raised $221,926, though nearly 60% is self-funded.

Perkins sits fourth at $135,120. Her donor list includes four current or former Massachusetts district attorneys: former Middlesex County DAs Scott Harshbarger and Gerry Leone, former Suffolk County DA Ralph Martin and current Cape and Islands DA Robert Galibois.

Select Board Chair David Pearlman and member Bernard Greene endorsed Perkins in June. Both are attorneys on the five-member board; the other three members have not endorsed in the race. Greene said in June that Perkins distinguished herself by engaging directly with the community: "Early on in the process, she reached out to Brookline residents and officials and presented herself and what her plans were with respect to the DA's office. No one else did."

Deitch's campaign has pointed to support from former Town Moderator Kate Poverman and Library Trustee Michael Burstein as evidence of its Brookline presence.

Brookline is one of 28 communities in the Norfolk County district, which covers more than 740,000 residents. Morrissey announced in January that he would not seek reelection after holding the post since 2010. His departure followed years of scrutiny over his office's handling of the Karen Read murder investigation and the Sandra Birchmore death case, as NBC Boston reported.

Perkins, who has more than 30 years of legal experience including work in the Attorney General's Office, was the first candidate to enter the race. Deitch left the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston, where he led the federal investigation into the Read case and public corruption in Norfolk County, according to CBS Boston.

All eight candidates have raised a combined $975,124 as of early August, per OCPF records. The remaining Democrats on the Sept. 1 ballot are Craig MacLellan ($65,538), Macy Lee ($42,399) and Jim Barakat ($947). Independent Joe Pagliarulo, who advances directly to the Nov. 3 general election, has raised $3,000, all self-funded.

The League of Women Voters hosts a candidate forum Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. Brookline voters can watch live on The Needham Channel; registration is required for the Zoom audience.