Drew Wilson
St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes released his first ad of the 2018 election cycle Monday, touting his military service and accomplishments during the eight years he’s been a member of the Florida Legislature.
The ad, “Oath,” begins with Brandes in a park with his wife and children.
“He took an oath to protect us at home and defend us overseas. Jeff Brandes – U.S. Army veteran, caring family man, successful businessman,” the ad narrator states. “Jeff Brandes has served our country and community with honor and integrity.”
The 30-second spot then shows the SD 24 incumbent speaking with people at a construction site, in a neighborhood, at a diner and at a school.
“Lieutenant Jeff Brandes led over 75 convoys while deployed in the war on Iraq. A leader who brings people together, Jeff Brandes cut taxes, reduced job-killing regulations and worked to create schools of excellence. Jeff Brandes, serving country and community.”
The closing frames of the campaign ad show it was paid for by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and includes thumbnails of Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young and Gainesville Republican Sen. Keith Perry.
“The Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee endorses and urges you to vote for Jeff Brandes, Dana Young and Keith Perry,” the text reads.
Brandes’ Senate District 24 seat, along with Young’s SD 18 and Perry’s SD 8, are top targets for Florida Democrats in the fall. Trial lawyer Carrie Pilon filed paperwork last month to challenge Brandes in his final re-election campaign.
SD 24 is competitive on paper, though Brandes is likely the safest of those incumbents.
Young won SD 18, a Clinton plus-5 seat, with a plurality of the vote two years ago. Perry outperformed the top of the ticket in 2016, winning SD 8 by 5 points while the district voted for Donald Trump by less than a point. Their 2018 opponents are also more intimidating.
Brandes didn’t even face a challenger two years ago, when Trump carried the district by 7 points. Also, unlike SD 8 and SD 18, Republicans have a healthy lead over Democrats in voter registrations, 37-33.
After rumors of Pilon’s entry leaked in March, he flexed his fundraising muscle and boosted his campaign with a $300,000 self-contribution.
He’s also been pulling in endorsements. Notably, he rolled out an endorsement from former Sarasota Republican Rep. Ray Pilon – Carrie Pilon’s father-in-law – the same day she announced her campaign.
Brandes’ ad is below:
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Jeff Brandes is a client of Extensive Enterprises Media, the holding company that owns FloridaPolitics.com.
