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A name by President Donald Trump for somebody to main U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee appeared to hurry candidates to file. However up to now, it’s unclear who has the sources to problem the incumbent in a swing district.
Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican, raised practically $278,000 from the beginning of the yr till the tip of March. That brings her whole fundraising for the cycle to just about $628,000.
She additionally despatched practically $69,000 this quarter. With all issues collectively, she closed March with greater than $781,000 in money available, practically 29 occasions as a lot as any challenger.
However she is drawing opponents. Since Trump in late March known as for somebody to tackle Lee — seemingly for being the only Florida GOP U.S. Consultant to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis for President — extra candidates have filed on each side of the aisle.
On the Republican aspect, two candidates that had been difficult U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican, shifted to Florida’s fifteenth Congressional District to compete with Lee.
Podcaster Brian Perras, who has espoused conspiracy theories concerning the Baltimore bridge collapse and accused President Joe Biden of being a pedophile, has filed. However the Pasco County Republican has but to report any fundraising. That makes it a private problem to cowl the $10,440 qualification charge for partisan congressional candidates in Florida, and it’s due by midday on April 26.
However Coast Guard veteran James Choose has extra within the financial institution. He raised greater than $60,000 simply within the first quarter of the yr whereas nonetheless difficult Bilirakis. However he additionally spent $39,000 within the quarter.
The underside line, he closed with greater than $27,000 in money available. Which means he has the cash to qualify, nevertheless it’s nonetheless unclear if different sources will kick in anytime quickly.
Democrat Pat Kemp simply filed as a candidate in CD 15 in late March however earlier than the tip of the quarter reported simply $970 in fundraising. In the meantime, former Lake Wales Metropolis Commissioner Kris Fitzgerald has but to report any fundraising exercise within the quarter, and closed 2023 with $733 in money available.
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