Drew Wilson
Republican Rep. Bob Cortes faces two opponents in his House District 30 re-election bid, but he isn’t taking the challenge sitting down.
The second-term lawmaker’s campaign is touting their recent success in gathering petitions to make the 2018 ballot but said their work “is just beginning.”
“We have begun the next phase by focusing our Eye On November, when we will need your help to get Bob re-elected,” the campaign said in an email. “I would like to ask you to save the date SATURDAY JUNE 23, from 1-4PM, when we will be hosting a #TeamCortes Mega Walk.”
Cortes’ Altamonte Springs home will serve as the launch point for the event where after a briefing, supporters will fan out across the district to help the GOP lawmaker take the temperature of his Orange and Seminole County constituency.
The campaign encouraged prospective attendees to enlist as many of their friends as they’d like to help pitch in on the canvassing effort.
“The Democrats will be targeting this race as a priority district, and we cannot let that happen. We need your help, and look forward to seeing you soon,” the email said.
The campaign is certainly correct that Democrats have eyes Cortes’ set, as they have ever since he knocked former Democratic Rep. Karen Castor Dentel out of office with a surprising 3-point victory in 2014.
This go around Cortes faces Democrats Joy Goff-Marcil and Daniel Anderson in his re-election bid.
Two weeks out from the qualifying deadline only Goff-Marcil has gathered enough petitions to qualify for the ballot, however Anderson has enough cash in his campaign account to cover the qualifying fee should he fall short of collecting the required signatures.
As of April 30, Cortes had a massive lead in the money race with $105,325 raised and more than $85,000 banked. Goff-Marcil has raised $18,638 and has $14,256 at the ready.
Anderson, the first-in Democrat, was the only candidate to have filed his May finance report as of Friday. He’s raised $18,925, including $15,000 in loans, and has $12825 on hand.
HD 30 straddles the border of Seminole and Orange counties and includes the communities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Eatonville, Fern Park, Forest City, Goldenrod, Lockhart and Maitland. About two-thirds of HD 30 voters live on the Seminole side.
Registered Democrats slightly outnumber Republicans within the district, and it voted plus-8 in favor of Hillary Clinton two years ago. Cortes ran far ahead of the top-of-ticket Republican, securing a second term with a 7-point victory over Democrat Ryan Neal Yadav.
The event flyer is below. It is also listed on Facebook.
