A.G. Gancarski
Jacksonville Republican Rep. Clay Yarborough drew a 2018 Democratic challenger in deep-red Florida House District 12 this month.
The challenger: Timothy Yost, a self-described “Northeast Florida high school/college teacher, Jacksonville resident and proud Navy veteran.”
Yost had previously filed for a run in U.S. Congressional District 4, a field that includes University of North Florida instructor Monica DePaul on the Democratic side, and Palatka petition collector Rob Ficker on the GOP side.
Currently, Rep. John Rutherford is the GOP incumbent in that likewise deep-red district.
In the HD 12 race, Yost will face an incumbent who emerged from a crowded, fractious GOP primary in 2016 to win an essentially uncontested general election.
Yarborough, noted for a grassroots approach to campaigning, has continued his successful outreach to the business community and the donor class — which wasn’t a sure thing a year ago.
Yarborough brought in $22,375 in June — by far, his biggest haul since filing for re-election months back.
All told, Yarborough has roughly $35,000 on hand.
