House Seat 46: Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, will represent parts of Pasco County for another two years. Legg is the only candidate in the race.
House Seat 47: Representing parts of Hillsborough County, Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Tampa, is running for the Senate and a crowd of Republicans has lined up for the open seat. Attorney James Grant has assembled an impressive war chest, raising almost $75,000 and spending $60,000 by the end of July. Businesswoman Irene Guy raised almost $65,000 and loaned her campaign $5,000. She had around $31,000 in the bank at the end of July to use in the last weeks of the primary. Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Brian Blair, also well-known for his professional wrestling career as one of the high-flying Killer Bees tag-team, will have less money to work with in August. He raised almost $33,000, loaned his campaign $6,5000 and had spent more than $37,000 by the end of July. While businessman Tom Aderhold loaned his campaign almost $18,000, he has not been able to keep up with his rivals. Awaiting the winner of the Republican primary is a strong Democratic candidate, Michael Steinberg, who raised almost $11,000 and loaned his campaign $100,000. He had already spent more than $60,000 by the end of July. This seat will be one to watch in the primary and in the general election.
House Seat 48: Rep. Peter Nehr, R-Tarpon Springs, could have a bumpy ride but he is the favorite to hold on to this seat representing parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties. He has drawn two Republican primary opponents: Marg Baker and Steven Mueller. Mueller loaned his campaign more than $20,500 and spent more than $17,500 before the end of July. Having raised almost $110,000 with almost $53,000 of that spent by the end of July, Nehr should have enough money to weather the storm. The winner of the Republican primary will take on Democratic candidate Tom McKone in November who had more than $7,000 cash on hand at the end of July. Nehr is certainly a favorite to keep his seat, but he does not have the easiest of paths to victory.
House Seat 49: Representing parts of Orange and Osceola counties, Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, is a rising star for the Democrats and one who appears headed for another term. With around $42,000 in the bank, Soto should have an easy time in November over independent candidate Betty La Chance, who has loaned her campaign $3,500. There is no Republican candidate in the race.
House Seat 50: Representing parts of Pinellas County, Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, should have no problem winning another term. Hooper had around $53,000 in the bank at the end of July while Democratic candidate Shelly Leonard had less than $30.
