Republican lawmakers announce committee week fundraiser

A fundraising reception benefitting two incumbent Republican senators and two GOP candidates will be held in Tallahassee next month.

The event is slated for Sept. 17 at the Governors Club, 202 South Adams St. It will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The fundraiser is aimed at boosting the campaign accounts of Republican Sens. Gayle Harrell and Debbie Mayfield, who are running for reelection in 2020. The event will also benefit Jennifer Bradley and state Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez.

Bradley is looking to succeed her husband, Senate Budget Chief Rob Bradley, in North Florida’s Senate District 5. Rodriguez is running for Senate District 39, which is currently held by Republican Sen. Anitere Flores.

Flores, who is term-limited, is listed on the host committee for the event as are Sens. Kathleen Passidomo, Lizbeth Benacquisto and Kelli Stargel.

For the most part, each candidate is the favorite to in their race.

Harrell was elected to Senate District 25 last year with an 8-point win over Democratic nominee Roberty Levy. She succeeded former Senate President Joe Negron, who left office two years early. Mayfield won a supermajority of the vote in a three-way race for Senate District 17 in the 2016 election cycle.

Bradley, meanwhile, is currently the only Republican candidate running for SD 5, which carries a strong advantage for Republicans. She’s also netted some major endorsements since entering the race last week.

In addition to Senate President Bill Galvano, next-in-line Senate President Wilton Simpson is backing her bid, as are and Sen. Travis Hutson and Passidomo, the leading contenders to take the gavel if Republicans maintain their majority in the Senate after the 2022 elections.

Rodriguez likely faces the toughest battle of the four. She faces a primary challenge from Angie Charino and the Democrat vying for the seat, Anna Hochkammer, has proven a formidable fundraiser — as of June 30, she had raised more than $140,000 between her campaign and committee accounts and had $125,000 banked.

The fundraiser invitation is below.