A.G. Gancarski
Republican Wyman Duggan, a Jacksonville lawyer seeking to replace departing Jay Fant in House District 15, hit six figures in fundraising last month, reporting $10,124 of new December money, which pushed him up to $103,674 raised (and over $92,000 on hand).
Duggan’s likely Democrat opponent, highly touted Tracye Polson, is still running competitively in the cash chase.
Polson closed December with $69,642 cash on hand: she has raised $89,345 in hard money and an additional $15,665 in the account of her political committee, Better Jacksonville.
If previous presidential votes are predictive, this looks to be a competitive general election. Per Daily Kos, HD 15 “was R+8.7 for president after being R+12.6 in ‘12.”
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Meanwhile, as the money race stayed competitive, Duggan had a unique value add: a key endorsement from another Clay County Republican in Tallahassee: Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley.
Bradley described Duggan as “a respected community leader who will serve with honor, integrity, and commitment to our shared conservative values.”
Duggan, meanwhile, is “honored to have the support of Sen. Bradley who has served as a conservative leader in the Florida Senate. I look forward to working with Sen. Bradley throughout my campaign and in the Florida legislature fighting for a more prosperous and brighter future for Florida.”
Duggan has scored a swath of endorsements from Republican electeds, setting up the “Your leaders trust Duggan … shouldn’t you?” mailpieces.
Jacksonville City Councilmen Danny Becton, Matt Schellenberg, Greg Anderson, Aaron Bowman, Scott Wilson, Doyle Carter, Jim Love and Sam Newby are on board. So are former Councilmen Jim Overton and Kevin Hyde. And Rep. John Rutherford, State Sen. Aaron Bean, State Rep. Jason Fischer, Duval Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell, Duval Tax Collector Michael Corrigan also back Duggan.
However, Bradley is unique as a regional power broker, and his endorsement is critical.
Especially in recent months since becoming Appropriations Chair, the Fleming Island Republican has shown robust committee fundraising for his Working for Florida’s Families.
In December, Bradley’s Working for Florida’s Families brought in $173,000, pushing it to $720,000 on hand.
Among the donors: U.S. Sugar, Walmart, Florida Blue, Associated Industries of Florida.
