Running without the benefits of incumbency, three House candidates had raised more than $200,000 as of Sept. 28, and three others had topped $160,000, according to the latest campaign-finance reports.
Monticello Republican Halsey Beshears had collected $281,264 for his District 7 race in north Florida, while Orlando Republican Bob Brooks had raised $230,783 in Central Florida’s District 47 and Cape Coral Republican Dane Eagle had raised $201,609 in southwest Florida’s District 77.
Other top fund-raisers among new candidates were Fort Myers Republican Heather Fitzenhagen, with $182,970 in District 78; Orlando Democrat Joe Saunders, with $161,660 in District 49; and Elkton Republican Travis Hutson, with $160,370 in District 24.
Beshears faced a tough primary against three other Republicans and is competing with Bristol Democrat Robert Hill in the general election.
Brooks did not have a primary opponent but is running against Democrat Linda Stewart, a former Orange County commissioner, in November.
Eagle, meanwhile, beat one Republican in the primary and faces Cape Coral Democrat Arvella Clare in the general election.
