Scott Powers
Democrat Anna Eskamani qualified for the 2018 ballot in Florida’s House District 47 race, collecting more than 1,400 petition signatures.
Eskamani, an Orlando-based executive for Planned Parenthood, faces Winter Park businessman Stockton Reeves, a Republican, in the 2018 race. They seek to succeed state Rep. Mike Miller, who is running for Congress.
She needed 1,200 signatures and had the Orange County Supervisor of Elections certify 1,484.
Eskamani, 27, who raised $139,000 in five months as a first-time candidate, becomes one of the first House of Representatives candidates to qualify for the 2018 election, demonstrating grass-roots field strength to go along with fundraising prowess. Her campaign said in a news release that her fundraising now has topped $150,000. She also has drawn numerous Democratic endorsements, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who endorsed Republican Miller in the last election.
“As an Orlando native it’s incredibly humbling to be surrounded by so much local love and support,” she stated in a news release. “ I am the sum of those around me, and it was 109 volunteers who knocked on 4,691 neighborhood doors and crowd canvassed at events across HD 47 that got us to where we are today. Organized people will change the face of politics, and it’s starting right here in Central Florida with our campaign, and with the 1,484 voters who have joined our movement.”
The deadline to qualify for the 2018 election is in June 2018.
“Qualifying by petition takes time, commitment, and when done right demonstrates strong community support, the kind of support that a candidate needs if they expect to win,” Democratic strategist Steve Schale said in the news release. “The fact that Anna qualified by petition and qualified this early is reflective of her viability as a candidate and ability to motivate people to take action.”
