Drew Wilson
Tampa Republican Rep. Shawn Harrison added another major endorsement for his House District 63 re-election campaign on Thursday.
The new endorsement came in from the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a police labor union.
“The Florida PBA has been on my side, and I on theirs, my entire career in politics. The respect I have for our men and women who put on a badge, wear a gun, and keep us safe is immense,” Harrison said in an email. “In fact I have an entire wall in my office dedicated to my law enforcement awards over the years. I am honored to be supported once again by the Florida PBA.“
The PBA backing came a few days after Harrison was named by the Florida Realtors as one of several lawmakers it recommended for another term in Tallahassee.
Harrison is up against Democratic attorney Fentrice Driskell in HD 63, a perennial swing seat that covers part of Hillsborough County, including portions of northern Tampa and the communities of Lutz, Pebble Creek, Lake Magdalene and Carrollwood.
As of June 22, he had raised more than $129,000 in hard money and had about $77,000 in the bank. He also had nearly $129,000 on hand in his political committee, Committee for an Innovative Florida, as of July 6. Driskell, as of July 6, has raised about $116,000 for his campaign and had $84,335 on hand.
Democrats make up about 39 percent of the swing seat’s electorate, while Republicans hold a 32 percent share.
Harrison served in the House from 2010 to 2012, when former Democratic Rep. Mark Danish beat him by about 700 votes to flip the newly redrawn HD 63 despite raising less than $20,000 for his campaign compared to nearly $300,000 for Harrison.
Harrison reclaimed the seat in the 2014 cycle with a 5-point win over Danish, and in 2016 he emerged victorious in a tough re-election battle against Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione. His sub 2-point victory came as Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the seat by double digits.
