In the first three months of the year, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney’s reelection campaign drew substantial support from employees of General Dynamics, the defense contractor whose interests he champions as chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces.

Courtney, a Vernon Democrat seeking a ninth consecutive term in Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses nearly the entire eastern half of the state, outraised his Republican challenger, state Rep. Mike France of Gales Ferry, by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio during the quarter, campaign finance records show.

Courtney's campaign had nearly $960,000 in cash on hand at the start of the first quarter and took in $308,836 in contributions between Jan. 1 and March 31. After spending $61,760 during the quarter, his campaign had more than $1.2 million in cash on hand.

France, currently serving his fourth term representing the state's 42nd House District, which includes Preston and parts of Ledyard and Montville, had $91,549 in cash on hand at the start of the quarter. His campaign raised $109,774 during the quarter and spent $84,490. At the end of the quarter, it had $116,832 in cash on hand.

Nearly two-dozen employees of General Dynamics and Electric Boat, the company’s Groton-based nuclear-powered submarine division, contributed to Courtney’s campaign between Jan. 1 and March 31. Eighteen individuals, including Kevin Graney, the EB president, contributed $1,000 each.

Three General Dynamics executives, including Phebe Novakovic, chairman and chief executive officer, donated $2,000 each. In addition, a General Dynamics political action committee contributed $3,000.

Overall, individuals contributed $133,043 to Courtney’s campaign while political action committees contributed $175,300. In addition, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee made a donation of $492.88.

"I'm proud of the strong support my campaign received from all across eastern Connecticut, including from those working to dramatically grow jobs in the region,” Courtney said in a statement issued by Brooke Parker, his campaign committee’s finance director. “The robust support my campaign received this quarter ensures that we will be able to convey a message focused on my record of revitalizing the region's economy."

After a 20-year Navy career, which included a stint as supervisor of shipbuilding in Groton, France joined Progeny Systems Corp., which develops hardware and software systems for submarines. An engineer, he currently serves as the joint interoperability lead for the Virginia-class submarine program.

France raised $102,510 among individuals, including $2,500 in donations from four EB employees. One of the top contributors to his campaign was Michael Grillo, an account executive with M&M Group in Norwich, where Grillo was an unsuccessful candidate for City Council in last year's municipal elections.

Political action committees contributed $7,263 to France's campaign, which could not be reached to comment.

France loaned his campaign $10,000 in personal funds last year.

A third candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat, Democrat Anthony DiLizia of Stonington, raised $79.40 during the quarter. At the end of the quarter, his campaign had $760.50 in cash on hand.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com