A.G. Gancarski
Earlier in May, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson insisted his fundraising for re-election in Florida’s 5th Congressional District was on track.
This despite reasons for skepticism, related to sluggish fundraising and a high burn rate.
As of the end of March, the first-term Tallahassee Democrat’s campaign had just under $160,000 on hand — roughly half of the almost $320,000 raised, with little laid out in the way of a campaign infrastructure.
Despite these structural inefficiencies, Lawson was confident: “During this next quarter, we just need 50 or 60 thousand dollars,” he said.
If a fundraiser slated for Thursday, one that is in Tallahassee and sees a host committee helmed by some of Tallahassee’s biggest name Democrats, is any indication, Lawson may hit that mark in one night.
Among the names: Sen. Bill Montford, Reps. Ramon Alexander and Lorraine Ausley. Tallahassee Commissioner Curtis Richardson, and attorney Ben Crump are just a few of the names on the host committee.
Lawson is facing Jacksonville Democrat Alvin Brown, a one-term mayor who left office in 2015, in the August primary.
Brown, through one-quarter of fundraising, established functional parity with Lawson concerning cash on hand, with $127,000 at the end of the quarter compared to Lawson’s aforementioned sum.
