Mike La Rosa draws Democrat challenger

Barbara Cady

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.

Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch is the President of Extensive Enterprises and is the publisher of some of Florida’s most influential new media websites, including Florida Politics and Sunburn, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Schorsch is also the publisher of INFLUENCE Magazine. For several years, Peter's blog was ranked by the Washington Post as the best state-based blog in Florida. In addition to his publishing efforts, Peter is a political consultant to several of the state’s largest governmental affairs and public relations firms. Peter lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Michelle, and their daughter, Ella.



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories