Outside groups beef up ad buys in SD 23, HD 21 ahead of primary

Political committees are pouring big money into a handful of legislative races in the final days before the Aug. 30 primary.

“Floridians for Ethics and Truth in Politics,” “Conservatives for Truth,” and the “Conservative Leadership Fund” upped their ad buys this week, buying a combined $153,713 worth of TV ad time in at least two legislative races, Senate District 23 and House District 21.

Floridians for Ethics and Truth in Politics is set to spend at least $82,203 for cable ads through Aug. 29 in Senate District 23. The Tallahassee-based political committee was created in June, and has spent $96,000 on advertisements since July.

The committee has raised $179,248 since its creation. The committee received $117,500 from “Floridians for Limited Government,” a political committee linked to Rep. Doug Broxson. Broxson is running in Senate District 1.

Floridians for Ethics and Truth in Politics purchased TV time in two media markets — Fort Myers and Tampa Bay. Both of those media markets cover portions of Senate District 23, which includes all of Sarasota County and western Charlotte County.

Conservatives for Truth also bought TV time in Tampa Bay and Fort Myers markets, spending $45,994 to air 30-second spots on cable through Aug. 30.

The Miami-based political committee was formed in July, and has raised $280,000. Records show the group received $100,000 from “Rebuild Florida,” Rep. Jose Felix Diaz’s political committee.

Conservatives for Truth also received $100,000 from “Citizens Alliance for Florida’s Economy,” whose donors include the “Florida Justice PAC.”

Republicans Doug Holder, Nora Patterson, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube are battling it out to replace Sen. Nancy Detert in Senate District 23.

The race is a close one, with a new survey from St. Pete Polls showing Steube is ahead with 26 percent support. The poll, commissioned by FloridaPolitics.com, found Patterson is at 24 percent, while Holder is at 22 percent. Pilon is in fourth with 16 percent.

Republican Rick Levine is also running in Senate District 23.

Meanwhile, the Conservative Leadership Fund is spending $23,516 on ad time on cable in the Gainesville market, which covers all of House District 21. Created in June, Conservative Leadership Fund has raised $303,546. Records show the committee received $180,000 from “Floridians for Equitable Government,” which is tied to Holder.

Republicans Chuck Clemons, Wenda Lewis and Tim Rogers will face off in the Aug. 30 primary.