Peter Schorsch
St. Cloud Republican Rep. Mika La Rosa picked up a Democratic challenger in his re-election bid House District 42 Monday.
Barbara Cady is the first major-party opponent to file against La Rosa for 2018. Last month, no-party candidate Lonzell Ivory Jr. opened up a campaign account for the seat, which covers parts of Osceola and Polk counties.
Cady attended the Democratic National Convention last year as a delegate for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and was the lead coordinator for Clinton’s campaign in Osceola County. On Twitter, Cady describes herself as a “liberal progressive, radical feminist, freedom fighter, human rights activist.”
The Kissimmee Democrat is also a SUNY New Paltz alumna who holds a degree in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies.
Despite having more registered Democrats than Republicans, HD 42 has a reliable GOP lean and La Rosa will likely waltz into a fourth term.
Last year, the 35-year-old Republican went up against Democrat Benny Valentin on Election Day and won by more than 10 points. In 2014, a mid-term election year, his margin was more than 20 points over Democratic challenger Chad Carnell.
So far this cycle, La Rosa has raised about $32,000 and has $18,000 of that money on hand. Ivory has not yet reported any monetary contributions to his campaign, and Cady’s first campaign finance report will not be available until mid August.
