Candidates positioning themselves in fundraising for the stretch run

The 2022 Primary/Election Day is fast approaching, and candidates in three key races for Apopka voters are sharpening their messages and expanding their fundraising efforts.

In the Florida House District 39 election, three Republican candidates - Doug Bankson, Charles Hart, and Randy Ross are competing to take on Tiffany Highes - who is running unopposed as a Democrat. There is no incumbent in this newly formed district - which includes all of Apopka. The winner between the three Republicans faces Hughes in a November 8th election.

In the Orange County Commission District 2 race, incumbent Commissioner Christine Moore is taking on challengers Chris Delgado and Sandra Fatmi-Hall, The August 23rd election will narrow the field down to the top two candidates unless one of them gets over 50% of the vote. A runoff election would be on November 8th.

And in the Special election to fill the vacated Apopka City Commission seat, former Apopka City Commissioner and mayoral candidate Kyle Becker is taking on political newcomer Lynetta Johnson. The winner of the August 23rd election will fill the seat after the November 8th election has concluded.

FL House District 39: Bankson maintains overall lead, Hart is closing, and Hughes maintains consistency

In the race for 39, Apopka City Commissioner Doug Bankson raised $4,076 to increase his total to $72,4641.22. Bankson has spent $7,061.25 on his campaign.

Not far behind is the Orange County Republican Party Chairman Charles Hart, who won the month with a $27,295 haul to increase his total fundraising efforts to $59,340.22. Hart has spent $$21,917.82 on his campaign.

Randy Ross is the third candidate in the Republican field. Ross raised $6,276 in June, which is also the total contributions he has received. Ross spent $3,030.35 so far on his campaign.

Tiffany Hughes, the Democrat running unopposed, continued her consistent fundraising efforts. Hughes raised $11,340.70, the fourth straight month she eclipsed $10,000. Hughes now sits at $51,273.86 in total contributions and has spent $12,434.14 on her campaign.

Orange County Commission District 2: Moore maintains fundraising advantage, but Delgado posts a big June tally

Incumbent Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore raised $21,595 in June and continues to lead District 2 fundraising with a total of $150,405.00. Moore has spent $61,680.50 on her re-election campaign.

Sandra Fatmi-Hall had a modest month of fundraising, collecting only $5,790.66, and extending her total contributions to $106.913.16. Hall has spent $21,917.82 in total.

Political newcomer Chris Delgado reported $44,020 in total campaign contributions to begin his campaign, with $36,500 coming in loans from himself to his campaign. Delgado has spent $14,712.49 since starting his campaign.

Apopka City Commission Seat #3: Becker takes early lead

Things are just getting underway in the Apopka City Commission Special Election to fill Seat #3, but it's a sprint to the August 23rd finish. In the June report, Kyle Becker reported $5,328 in fundraising and $4,217.54 in in-kind contributions. The donations come from 20 donors with amounts ranging from $50-$1,000. Becker has spent $47.02 on his campaign, which leaves $5,280.98 in his campaign account.

Johnson posted $2,498 in June, with a total of $2,698. Those donations came from six contributors and ranged from $50-$1,000. She also reported $1,431 in in-kind contributions. Johnson has spent $648 on her campaign, which leaves her $2,050 in her campaign account.