Florida’s slate of Democratic Congressional challengers out-raised their Republican opponents and incumbents, according to FEC campaign finance reports due July 15th.“The toxic state of the GOP brand is hurting Republican congressional candidates, and Floridians are refusing to support Republican incumbents who have become part of the problem in Washington,” said Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Scott Arceneaux. “These numbers show that the Democratic message of protecting middle class families, economic fairness and our commitment to help businesses create jobs is resonating with Florida’s families. Our strong Democratic candidates are entering the final campaign months in excellent position, and will have the resources they need to win.”
By the numbers, these Democratic challengers out-raised their GOP opponents.
CD-9: Alan Grayson raised over $825,000 this quarter, compared to Republican front-runner John Quinones’s $156,557. Grayson finished the quarter with over $1.16 million cash on hand.
CD-10: Val Demings out-raised Rep. Dan Webster for the fourth straight quarter. Demings raised $292,000 to Webster’s $202,000.
CD-13: Jessica Ehrlich out-raised Rep. Bill Young, raising $86,172 to Young’s $75,226.
CD-16: Keith Fitzgerald out-raised the NRCC’s chief fundraiser — embattled used car salesman Rep. Vern Buchanan — for thesecond quarter in row. Fitzgerald raised over $381,000 to Buchanan’s $335,000. In the first quarter of 2012, Fitzgerald out-raised Buchanan by nearly 25-percent. In recent weeks, both the Rothenberg Political Report and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball have downgraded Buchanan’s chances to win this race.
CD-26: Both Gloria Romero Roses and Joe Garcia out-raised David Rivera who, according to a recent Miami Herald article, was nearly arrested for “52 counts of theft, money laundering and racketeering.” Romero Roses and Garcia both raised approximately $250,000 to Rivera’s $92,700.
