Drew Wilson
Former Republican Rep. Doug Holder brought in more than $120,000 for his Senate District 23 campaign last month, according to previews of his April report.
Holder, the first of five Republicans to file for the seat being vacated by Venice Republican Sen. Nancy Detert, raised an even $110,000 for his political committee and another $13,039 headed to his campaign account for $123,039 in total for April contributions.
The strong performance leaves Holder’s committee, Floridians for Equitable Government, with nearly $230,000 on hand and his campaign account with another $138,553 in the bank.
The April haul includes more than 100 contributions from within SD 23, which includes all of Sarasota County and coastal Charlotte County. The candidate also announced he has the 1,552 verified petition signatures needed to get on the ballot, making him the second ballot-qualified candidate after former Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson.
Holder’s combined war chest of $368,000 puts him ahead of the other four Republicans running in SD 23, at least temporarily.
Sarasota Rep. Greg Steube has more in his campaign account, about $214,000 through the end of March, followed by Patterson with about $119,000, including her April fundraising numbers.
Current HD 72 Rep. Ray Pilon is in fourth place with $74,676 in his campaign account on March 31, with the fifth Republican, Rick Levine, having just $1,500 in the bank heading into April.
Democrat Frank Cirillo is also running for the seat despite its heavy Republican advantage. The lone Democrat was able to raise $1,200 in his first four weeks in the campaign after filing March 4.
