House Seat 51: Republicans would love to knock off Rep. Janet Long, D-St. Petersburg, who represents parts of Pinellas County -- but it will be a tough task. As at the end of July, Long had raised more than $118,000 and spent almost $40,000. Republicans had some hopes for businessman Larry Ahern, but he has started off weakly with fund-raising. By the end of July, he had raised less than $24,000 and loaned the campaign $5,000 -- with more than $16,000 of that already spent. Victoria Torres is in the race as a TEA Party candidate.
House Seat 52: Rep. Bill Heller, D-St. Petersburg, who represents parts of Pinellas County, is being targeted by the Republicans this year. The GOP has high hopes for Jeff Brandes, a businessman and Iraq War veteran, who raised more than $88,000 and had spent more than $20,000 by the end of July. But Heller is no slouch, with around $50,000 in the bank and a long history of service at the University of South Florida. This race will be one to watch come November.
House Seat 53: With around $43,000 in the bank, Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, appears set to serve parts of Pinellas County for another two years. Republican opponent Thomas Cuba has shown no capacity for raising money and had less than $200 in the bank at the end of July.
House Seat 54: Rep. Jim Frishe, R-Belleair Bluffs, appears to be in solid shape to keep representing parts of Pinellas County. With around $40,000 in the bank, Frishe has a healthy financial advantage overDemocratic candidate Mary Russell, who served four years on the Pinellas County School Board. While an attractive candidate with a background in the Navy and as a teacher, Russell simply has not raised enough yet to be a viable candidate -- bringing in less than $5,000 by the end of July. Theres still time for her to turn things around, but right now Frishe has to be considered a solid favorite to win another term.
House Seat 55: Representing parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, looks headed back to Tallahassee. While Rouson had around $22,000 in the bank at the end of July, his Democratic primary opponent, April Danielle Sheffield, had less than $1,000 cash on hand. The winner will take on a write-in opponent come November. There is no Republican candidate in the race.
