Drew WilsonPalm Harbor Democrat Alex Toth announced Thursday that he’s bowing out of the race for northern Pinellas-based House District 65, currently held by second-term Republican Rep. Chris Sprowls.
Toth filed for HD 65 in February, but his campaign never truly got off the ground. His exit comes a couple days after fellow Palm Harbor Democrat Sally Laufer entered the race, which is no coincidence according to statement put out by Toth’s campaign.
“He entered the contest because no one was running against incumbent Chris Sprowls who had an NRA rating of A+. Now that Sally Laufer has entered the race Alex can return to helping the Democrats take control of the House,” the campaign said in an email.
Laufer and Sprowls are now the only candidates vying for seat.
HD 65 includes Clearwater, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs in northern Pinellas County. In addition to it being a safe Republican district, Sprowls is one of the most prodigious fundraisers in the Florida House.
As of April 30, he had raised more than $150,000 for his campaign and had nearly $900,000 more banked in an affiliated political committee, Floridians for Economic Freedom.
The 34-year-old attorney is in line to succeed Miami Republican Rep. Jose Oliva as House Speaker following the 2020 elections. As of last week, Sprowls had gathered enough signatures to make the 2018 ballot by petition.
