STATE CAPITAL BRIEFS (EVENING EDITION): MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

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MILLIONS POUR INTO SENATE CAMPAIGNS
As an indication of the increasingly expensive legislative races in Florida, eight Senate candidates on Tuesday's ballot raised more than $700,000 for their campaigns --- including two who topped $1 million, according to newly filed finance reports. Sen. Anitere Flores, a Miami Republican running for re-election in District 39 in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, raised the most money at $1,300,403. The next-highest was House Majority Leader Dana Young, a Tampa Republican who raised $1,067,993 for her bid in Hillsborough County's Senate District 18. They were followed by Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican who raised $937,142 for his campaign in Miami-Dade's Senate District 37; Rep. Frank Artiles, a Miami Republican who raised $849,774 for his campaign in Miami-Dade's Senate District 40; Rep. Keith Perry, a Gainesville Republican who raised $761,722 for his campaign in Senate District 8 in Alachua, Marion and Putnam counties; former Sen. Rod Smith, an Alachua Democrat who raised $738,376 for his bid in Senate District 8; Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, a Naples Republican who raised $733,554 for her campaign in Senate District 28 in Collier, Hendry and Lee counties; and Fort Lauderdale Democrat Gary Farmer, who raised $706,463 for his race in Broward County's Senate District 34.

HOUSE CANDIDATES REEL IN BIG BUCKS
With money pouring in from the Keys to Tallahassee, 10 state House candidates on Tuesday's ballot raised more than $400,000 for this year's elections, according to newly filed finance reports. The top fundraiser was Rep. Holly Raschein, a Key Largo Republican who raised $549,099 for her re-election bid in House District 120 in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties. She was followed by Rep. Manny Diaz Jr., a Hialeah Republican who raised $514,554 for his re-election bid in House District 103 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Next-highest was former Rep. Loranne Ausley, a Tallahassee Democrat looking to return to the Legislature in Leon County's House District 9. Ausley raised $501,065. Others who topped $400,000 were Coral Gables Republican John Couriel, who raised $437,518 in Miami-Dade's House District 114; Rep. Kathleen Peters, a Treasure Island Republican who raised $432,783 in Pinellas County's House District 69; Rep. Chris Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican who raised $428,025 in Pinellas County's House District 65; Rep. Mike Miller, a Winter Park Republican who raised $418,035 in Orange County's House District 47; Rep. Carlos Trujillo, a Miami Republican who raised $416,087 in House District 105 in Miami-Dade, Broward and Collier counties; Rep. Jeanette Nunez, a Miami Republican who raised $406,313 in Miami-Dade's House District 119; and St. Petersburg Democrat Ben Diamond, who raised $401,071 in Pinellas County's House District 68.

LATE MONEY FLOWS INTO RACE FOR FULLWOOD SEAT
With former state Rep. Reggie Fullwood, D-Jacksonville, leaving the House last month after pleading guilty to federal wire-fraud and tax charges, the candidates seeking to replace him received late infusions of campaign cash before Tuesday's election, according to newly filed finance reports. Democrat Tracie Davis, who replaced Fullwood in the House District 13 race, collected $32,538 in contributions from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3. That included $15,000 from the Florida Democratic Party, the report shows. Meanwhile, Republican Mark Griffin reeled in $26,230 during the period, including $11,500 from the Duval County Republican Party. House District 13 is heavily Democratic, but Fullwood's resignation forced the local Democratic Party to quickly select Davis to take his place. Fullwood's name remains on the ballot, though votes cast for him go to Davis.

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11/7/2016

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