Drew Wilson
Orlando Democrat Anna Eskamani raised another $22,300 in April for her campaign to replace exiting Republican Rep. Mike Miller in House District 47.
Eskamani brought in $18,800 of that money through her campaign account and raised the other $3,500 through her committee, People Power for Florida, putting her just past the $250,000 mark in total fundraising.
Her campaign report showed more than 170 contributions, continuing her trend of adding dozens of small-dollar donations month-to-month. She also brought in four checks for $1,000, the maximum contribution for state legislative races.
April’s max donors were former Florida League of Women Voters head Pamela Goodman, the Harriett Lake Family Trust, Ironworkers Local Union #808 and Orlando speech pathologist Laura Smith. Equality Florida deputy director Michael Farmer came in just under the cap with a $950 contribution.
The campaign also showed about $8,500 in spending in the new report, including $2,861 to Orlando-based Print Meisters and $2,500 to pay for campaign staff.
The committee cash came in through two contributions, a $2,500 check from Tampa attorney Crystal Whitescarver and $1,000 from Maria Ruiz-Hayes. People Power for Florida’s lone April expenditure was a $1,500 payment to Tallahassee law firm Hollimon PA.
Eskamani went into May with nearly $187,000 banked – $162,290 in hard money and another $24,650 in her committee.
Eskamani is the only Democrat running for HD 47, which is being vacated by Winter Park Rep. Mike Miller, who is running in the Republican Primary for Florida 7th Congressional District.
Her closest competitor, Winter Park Republican Stockton Reeves, raised $2,275 last month. Since filing for the race in July he’s brought in $120,470, including $94,700 in candidate loans. He had $105,583 at the ready on April 30.
Reeves’ primary opponent, Mikaela Nix, had not filed her April finance report as of Thursday morning. Through March she had just short of $29,000 in the bank. That number could shoot up depending on how lucrative her recent fundraiser turned out to be.
Democrats have a slight edge in voter registrations in the Orange County swing seat. Democrat Linda Stewart, now a state Senator, held the seat before Miller knocked her out with a 4-point win in the 2014 cycle. He was re-elected by 5 points in 2016 when he faced Democrat Beth Tuura.
