Ryan Nicol
Vern Buchanan held onto a sizable money lead in the race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District despite being outraised by David Shapiro in the most recent fundraising period.
Buchanan reported more than $2.1 million cash on hand after raising $90,000 from July 1 through Aug. 8, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
That $2.1 million dwarfs Shapiro’s $440,000 on hand. However, Shapiro did raise nearly $250,000 during the same period, more than doubling Buchanan’s haul.
The two are likely to face off in November’s election. The incumbent Buchanan is unopposed in the GOP primary. Shapiro’s only opponent, legal scholar Jan Schneider, has just under $82,000 on hand.
Even though the primaries are still going on, Shapiro and Buchanan have begun battling as if the general election was underway.
Buchanan has constantly jabbed Shapiro over the Democrat’s investments in various stocks.
Shapiro has returned fire over Buchanan’s acceptance of money from the sugar industry in light of the red tide problem.
Outside Democratic groups have also hit Buchanan over his purchase of a yacht on the same day the House passed its first version of the tax cuts bill.
Still, a recent poll showed Buchanan up by 10 points over Shapiro, and FiveThirtyEight’s recently-released projections for the U.S. House rate the seat as “likely Republican,” giving Buchanan 7 in 8 odds of winning in November.
