With Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, stepping down after six years in the Senate, Rep. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, is a heavy favorite to win the seat, which covers parts of Lake, Marion, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia counties.
Hays, a retired dentist who has served in the House since 2004, is a social conservative who has received numerous awards from the Christian Coalition over the years. He has brought in more than $264,000 and kept most of it, spending little more than $49,000 so far.
With no primary opponent, Hays faces Democrat Eunice Garbutt in November. Garbutt holds a master's degree in public administration and has a background in nonprofit management. Her team has done well in promoting her campaign through new media and technology but she has not proven to be much of a fund-raiser so far. She took in just over $3,000 and has spent most of that, which makes Hays a huge favorite to keep this seat for the Republicans.
