Challenger nearly matches Rep. Franklin's contributions

U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, reported campaign contributions of $58,876 in the fourth quarter of 2021, about $7,000 more than a Democratic challenger.

Franklin, a first-term House member, is currently running for reelection in District 15, which covers north Polk County and parts of Hillsborough and Lake counties. The Florida Legislature is creating new congressional boundaries as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process, and proposed maps show Polk County being removed from District 15.

Previously: U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin leads challenger Eddie Geller in funds for U.S. House District 15 race

Redrawing the lines: Redistricting proposals would place Polk County in new U.S. House district

Florida now has 27 U.S. House districts and will gain one as a result of population growth. The Legislature has proposed creating a new district that would contain all of Polk County. Gov. Ron DeSantis has submitted an alternative map, and the Legislature must approve new boundaries before the current session ends in March.

Franklin has collected about $288,700 for the election cycle, according to his year-end filing with the Federal Election Commission. The records show his campaign with $269,000 in available cash.

But Franklin’s campaign committee also reported owing $423,000. FEC records show that Franklin, a former Lakeland city commissioner, provided his campaign $550,000 during the 2020 election, when he ousted incumbent Ross Spano in the Republican primary before winning the general election.

Related: Ex-comedian running as Democrat in U.S. House-15

Franklin’s top Democratic challenger, Eddie Geller of Brandon, reported contributions of $51,800 in the period of October through December. Geller, a former comedian and political activist who entered the race in August, has collected $183,400 in total contributions and carries $96,300 in campaign cash.

Geller is likely to remain in the District 15 race if the Legislature removes Polk County from the district. No Democrat from Polk County has yet filed to run.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, reported contributions of $173,700 in the final quarter. Soto’s campaign has received $489,500 for the election cycle, FEC records show.

Soto reported $506,600 in cash on hand, including funds carried over from the previous election.

Bill Olson, a Republican challenger from Davenport, received $32,500 in contributions for the fourth quarter for a total of $131,100 in the election cycle. Olson reported expenditures of $145,300, leaving him with $21,800 in campaign cash.

Republican Scotty Moore of Orlando filed to join the District 9 race in October and collected $102,100 in the final quarter, FEC reports show. Moore has about $79,000 in available campaign cash, nearly four times as much as Olson.

FEC records show that 23 of Moore's 82 individual contributions came from non-Florida residents, including 12 from residents of North Dakota.

More: U.S. House candidate Bill Olson's campaign pitches stretch truth

Another Republican challenger, Jose Castillo of unincorporated Polk County, reported contributions of $6,573 in the fourth quarter and a total of $52,300 for the election cycle. Castillo carries $4,700 in campaign cash.

If the Legislature approves preliminary redistricting map, District 9 would no longer contain eastern Polk County, shifting the entire district to Orange and Osceola counties.

All of the other candidates in District 15 and District 9 have reported less than $10,000 in campaign funds.

U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, gathered $162,400 in the final quarter and reported total contributions of $478,300. Steube, a second-term House member, carries campaign cash of $631,000.

Steube represents District 17, which currently covers south Polk County and all or part of eight other counties. The only other two candidates, Democrat Dan Lambert and Theodore “Pink Tie” Murray, with no party affiliation, have not reported any campaign contributions.

Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on Twitter @garywhite13.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Challenger nearly matches Rep. Franklin's contributions in 4th quarter