Ryan Nicol
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart closed out his second quarter of fundraising by taking in just over $507,000, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
In total, the Republican’s campaign maintains more than $1.6 million still on hand. That’s more than quadruple the amount reported by his Democratic opponent, Mary Barzee Flores, who has just under $400,000 on hand.
Expect that gap to close, however, as Barzee Flores’ totals have not yet been updated with her second quarter fundraising numbers.
Barzee Flores is the only candidate in either party who filed to run against Diaz-Balart in Florida’s 25th Congressional District.
She had previously elected to run in Florida’s 27th Congressional District to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen but swapped out of that crowded Democratic field to ensure Diaz-Balart faces opposition in November.
It will be a tough race to win for the Democrats, as Diaz-Balart has coasted through his last several elections. Evaluators rate the race as “likely Republican.”
Barzee Flores has sought to make an appeal to the Democratic base in hopes she can win with an unexpectedly strong turnout, even going so far as to call for Donald Trump’s impeachment.
Thus far, however, Diaz-Balart retains a sizable money lead and holds the advantage of incumbency. The two will face off in the general election Nov. 6.
