Ryan Nicol
Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz brought in just under $229,000 in contributions during the second quarter of 2019.
That’s thanks in small part to help from one of her former Republican colleagues.
Among the list of donors to the Wasserman Schultz campaign is former U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida’s 27th Congressional District.
Ros-Lehtinen gave $1,000 to Wasserman Schultz back in early May. The latest reports filed with the FEC cover receipts and expenditures for April 1-June 30.
The cross-party donation from Ros-Lehtinen to Wasserman Schultz isn’t entirely unexpected. The two served together in the House for more than a decade. And Ros-Lehtinen was a more moderate Republican, often bucking her party on social issues.
That was due in part to the political realities of Florida’s 27th Congressional District, which Ros-Lehtinen represented. After she retired, that district was won by Democratic candidate Donna Shalala.
Wasserman Schultz has hauled in nearly $445,000 so far this election cycle. Her second quarter reports show more than $230,000 in expenditures, meaning she’s burned through nearly $500,000 throughout the cycle.
That puts Wasserman Schultz at a net negative this cycle, but she still has more than $430,000 on hand overall.
Those fundraising numbers trail some of her South Florida counterparts, such as Shalala and U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Florida’s 26th Congressional District.
Shalala brought in $422,000 in the second quarter, while Mucarsel-Powell took in more than $600,000. The latter has raised more than $1 million this year alone.
However, Shalala and Mucarsel-Powell will likely face stiffer competition in November 2020. That necessitates greater fundraising to help protect their seats. But Wasserman Schultz is likely safe in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District.
