Ryan Nicol
After officially entering the Senate District 39 contest on the last day of May, attorney Alexandria Suarez saw herself as the top-raising candidate in June, pulling in just over $19,000.
Suarez has her own private practice, focusing on civil litigation in family law, business law and some Medicare-related issues, among others.
“I’m pretty much a new kid on the block when it comes to politics, at least running,” Suarez told Florida Politics upon entering the contest as a Republican.
“I never considered running previously. The opportunity presented itself and I decided I always wanted to make a difference, so this is a chance that I might as well take on now.”
With less than $700 worth of expenses listed, Suarez is holding onto most of that $19,000 she’s earned so far.
What remains to be seen is whether Suarez can keep the fundraising momentum going, or whether this is a one-time bump coinciding with her entry into the race.
Suarez will need to continue that pace to catch the fundraising front-runner: Pinecrest Vice Mayor Anna Hochkammer. Hochkammer’s entry into the contest was even more impressive, netting her more than $100,000 in the first month between her campaign and her political committee, For A Brighter Future.
Hochkammer followed those April numbers with a combined $28,000 in May. In June, she managed to haul in just over $10,000, with more than $5,500 coming into the campaign and another $4,500 sent to her political committee. She has more than $126,000 still on hand.
Hochkammer is running as a Democrat to replace GOP state Sen. Anitere Flores, who is term-limited.
Angie Chirino, a singer and former congressional candidate, is also running as a Republican in the SD 39 contest. She too saw a booming first month, bringing in $15,000 in April.
That pace has slowed. Chirino earned just $1,500 in May, but followed that up with more than $6,400 in June. After expenses, Chirino has just over $22,000 remaining
SD 39 covers Monroe County and part of Miami-Dade County.
