House Seat 26: With Rep. Pat Patterson, R-DeLand, retiring due to term limits, this seat representing parts of Flagler and Volusia counties has drawn three Republicans and one Democrat in the race to take his place.Former Ormond Beach Mayor Fred Costello, who is running for the Republican nomination, has raised more than $126,000 and had more than $43,000 in the bank at the end of July -- far more than either of his two opponents in the primary: Coastal Florida PBA president Vince Champion, a retired police officer, and Nathan McDonell, a businessman and veteran. Having raised $33,000, Champion still had more than $11,000 in the bank at the end of July while McDonell spent almost every cent of the more than $9,500 hebrought in. Democratic nominee Tim Huth, who worked as a deputy superintendent in the Volusia County school system, will take on the winner and had more than $60,000 on hand at the end of July. This could turn into a race to watch come November.
House Seat 27: Rep. Dwayne Taylor, D-Daytona Beach, who represents parts of Volusia County, appears headed for a second term. With just under $25,000 in the bank, Taylor does not have any primary challengers or Republican opponents. He will face independent candidate Christopher Kennedy in November who has had problems raising money.
House Seat 28: Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, looks set to win a fourth term representing parts of Volusia County. Hukill raised almost $114,000 and spent almost $66,000 of that -- which should be enough to hold off a Republican primary challenge from conservative activist Teresa Valdes. While Valdes has worked the grass-roots hard and loaned her campaign almost $30,000, Hukill is very well-established and should survive the challenge. The winner of the Republican primary will face a write-in candidate in November.
House Seat 29: With Rep. Ralph Poppell, R-Titusville, facing term limits, four candidates will duke it out in the Republican primary to take his place representing parts of Brevard and Indian River counties. With no Democrats in the race, the four Republicans -- businessman Rob Dale, businessman Tom Goodson who serves on Canaveral Port Authority, attorney Erin Grall and accountant Roger Shealy -- have done well in raising money. With just under $60,000 in the bank at the end of July, thanks to a $20,000 loan, Goodson is in good shape to make it to the primary. So is Grall, who loaned her campaign $25,000 and had around $45,000 in the bank at the end of July. Shealy had around $30,000 -- again, thanks to a $20,000 loan. Despite loaning himself $25,000, Dale was lagging at the end of July in cash on hand. This will be an interesting primary battle.
House Seat 30: Conservative Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, representing parts of Brevard County, has been raising his profile on immigration, NASA funding and other issues. He has brought in more than $106,000 and had spent more than $72,000 at the end of July. Workman faces Amy Tidd, the Democratic candidate, come November. Tidd ran for the seat in 2008 and had around $33,000 in the bank at the end of July.Having won 54-46 over Tidd in 2008, Workman is a favorite but not a lock by any means.
