By Hastings Wyman –
Money is flowing into Dixie’s congressional contests this year, especially in the 14 open congressional districts. Eleven are currently held by Republicans, three by Democrats. Because 90% or more of incumbent members of the US House are reelected every two years, when a vacancy does occur, it usually opens a floodgate of pent up ambition from legislators, wealthy individuals, and others who want to move up in or into political life. Thus far, 75 candidates have filed for the 14 seats, all of whom have raised at least the $5,000 minimum required to report financial activity to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Thus, seven Republicans and three Democrats have filed so far in Florida 6, eight Republicans and two Democrats filed in Florida 18, six Republicans and one Democrat in Georgia 3, six Republicans in Louisiana 3, and seven Republicans in Tennessee 8.
Most congressional districts have been drawn to favor one party or the other, and the FEC financial reports for the 1st Quarter reflect that. In most districts, the flushest campaigns are all in one party or the other. There are several competitive districts, however, where both parties have substantial strength and both Democrats and Republicans are raising major money.
The most open seats are in Florida, spurred by House members leaving office to seek the US Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio (R), as well as retirements encouraged by court-ordered mid-term redistricting. US Reps. David Jolly (R-13th), Ron DeSantis (R-FL6th), Patrick Murphy (D-18th) and Alan Grayson (D-9th) are all running for Rubio’s Senate seat and there are crowded contests to take over their congressional seats. It should be noted, however, that candidates for congress in Florida have until June 24 to file for office, so these FEC reports are the beginning, not the end, of this year’s congressional campaigns.
The candidate with the most money doesn’t always win, but the late and beleaguered IT&T lobbyist Dita Beard wasn’t far wrong when she quipped, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.”
1st Qtr FEC reports for open US House seats in the South
Received Cash-on-hand
FL 1
Matt Gaetz/R 363,000 340,000
Brian Frazier/R 15,000 12,000
FL 2
Neal Dunn/R 862,000 553,000
Mary Thomas/R 518,000 379,000
Ken Sukhia/R 102,000 102,000
Jeff Moran/R 10,000 6,000
FL 6
Patrick Mooney/R 353,000 337,000
Adam Barringer/R 263,000 64,000
Sandy Adams/R 181,000 8,000
Fred Costello/R 137,000 86,000
G. G. Galloway/R 126,000 68,000
David Santiago/R 113,000 108,000
Brandon Patty/R 108,000 102,000
George Pappas/D 30,000 27,000
Dwayne Taylor/D 20,000 8,000
William McCullough/D 7,000 4,000
FL 9
Darren Soto/D 503,000 292,000
Susannah Randolph/D 464,000 315,000
Dina Minning/D 311,000 275,000
Ricardo Rangel/D 31,000 1,000
Wanda Rentas/R 10,000 5,000
Wayne Liebnitsky/R 9,000 2,000
FL 13
Charlie Crist/D 779,000 604,000
Eric Lynn/D 753,000 625,000
Mark Bircher/R 19,000 11,000
FL 18
Randy Perkins/D 2,711,000 2,169,000
Jonathan Chane/D 505,000 301,000
Marc Freeman/R 1,477,000 1,009,000
Brian Mast/R 647,000 288,000
Rebecca Negron/R 629,000 463,000
Rick Kozell/R 440,000 296,000
Carl Domino/R 400,000 296,000
Noelle Nikpour/R 224,000 109,000
Rick Roth/R 77,000 72,000
Carla Spalding/R 17,000 500
GA 3
Jim Pace/R 372,000 310,000
Drew Ferguson/R 216,000 120,000
Chip Flanegan/R 153,000 96,000
Mike Crane/R 94,000 77,000
Richard Mix/R 78,000 46,000
Samuel Anders/R 7,000 300
Tamarkus Cook/D 12,000 15,000
KY 1
James Comer/R 638,000 582,000
Michael Pape/R 377,000 310,000
Jason Betts/R 166,000 113,000
LA 3
Scott Angelle/R 613,000 602,000
Erick Knezek/R 552,000 515,000
August Rantz/R 406,000 399,000
Gregory Ellison/R 262,000 231,000
Grover Rees/R 121,000 121,000
Brett Geymann/R 52,000 40,000
LA 4
Ralph Baucum/R 343,000 315,000
Oliver Jenkins/R 259,000 253,000
Mike Johnson/R 155,000 142,000
Rick John/R 66,000 47,000
Elbert Guillory/R 12,000 10,000
TN 8
George Flinn/R 2,931,000 2,719,000
Brian Kelsey/R 439,000 426,000
David Kustoff/R 320,000 314,000
Mark Luttrell/R 145,000 143,000
Brad Greer/R 104,000 101,000
Thomas Leatherwood/R 39,000 25,000
David Maldonado/R 5,000 3,000
TX 15
Vicente Gonzales/D 1,698,000 210,000
Juan Palacios/D 364,000 102,000
Ruben Villarreal/R 71,000 1,000
VA 2
Donald McEachin/D 105,000 101,000
Ella Ward/D 20,000 11,000
Mike Wade/R 39,000 9,000
VA 5
Jim McKelvey/R 509,000 490,000
Michael Del Rosso/R 74,000 30,000
Thomas Garrett/R 47,000 18,000
Joe Whited/R 42,000 20,000
Ericke Cage/R 29,000 15,000
Jane Dittman/D 318,000 164,000