Peter Schorsch
Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young showed another $14,350 in contributions in her most recent campaign finance report, holding onto her six-figure lead over Democratic challenger Bob Buesing in the Senate District 18 race.
Young’s haul came in through 23 contributions, including four $1,000 checks from political committees associated with the Florida Retail Federation. The House majority leader also spent a little over $17,000 for the week of July 30 through Aug. 5.
Expenses were mainly on political consultants, including $4,500 to Sydney Ridley, $3,800 to Trent Phillips, and $1,875 to John Atkins.
The performance leaves Young with about $416,000 in her campaign account, while her political committee, “Friends of Dana Young,” has more than $750,000 in the bank on the back of an $18,500 performance last week.
Buesing hasn’t posted his Aug. 5 report yet, though as of July 29, the Tampa attorney had about $161,000 in his campaign account, including $24,363 in loans.
The newly redrawn SD 18 includes Avila, Carrollwood, Davis Islands, Lutz, MacDill Air Force Base, Odessa, South Tampa and Westchase. District statistics show Democrats have a 40 percent share of the electorate compared to a 36 percent share for Republicans. Back in 2012, President Barack Obama carried the Hillsborough County district by 1 point.
Despite the slight edge for Democrats, a recent St. Pete Polls survey shows Young with a 35-31 lead over Buesing in the district with no-party candidates Joe Redner and Sheldon Upthegrove pulling a combined 18 percent.
