Drew Wilson
Democratic state Rep. Loranne Ausley of Tallahassee is looking to move up to the state Senate.
To further that effort, she’s planning to bolster her campaign coffers with a pair of campaign fundraisers in South Florida.
The first is set for Sept. 9 at YOLO in Fort Lauderdale; the second will be held Sept. 10 at The Biltmore’s Marbella Room in Coral Gables.
Ausley is aware that she is raising money just a week after Hurricane Dorian stormed through the Bahamas. She updated her invite to read: “Loranne is all too aware of the immediate needs of those impacted, and will be working with her colleagues to provide support and supplies to the Bahamas. As Loranne continues her work on behalf of the people of Florida, she’s counting on your support in her run for the State Senate.”
The host committee for each event is stocked with elected officials.
The Fort Lauderdale funder will be attended by Sens. Oscar Braynon, Gary Farmer, Kevin Rader and Perry Thurston as well as Reps. Bobby DuBose, Kristin Jacobs and Evan Jenne.
Round two features Braynon and fellow Sens. Jason Pizzo and Annette Taddeo as well as Reps. Nick Duran, Joe Geller and Javier Fernandez, who recently launched his own Senate bid.
Ausley has been running for Senate District 3 since August 2018. The district is currently held by Sen. Bill Montford, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits.
As of now, she is the only viable Democratic candidate in the race — former Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox is still listed as a candidate, though he recently pleaded guilty to some charges in a long-standing public corruption case.
Also running for the seat are Republicans Benjamin Horbowy and Marva Preston as well as Libertarian Erin Gill.
SD 3 is a Democratic-leaning seat that covers all of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties.
As of July 31, Ausley had raised $229,000 in campaign cash and had about $198,000 in the bank. She has another $44,000 in her political committee, Florida 2020.
The fundraiser invitations are below.
