The two major-party candidates for the open U.S. House seat that includes Seminole County head into early voting with Democrat Bale Dalton holding a fundraising and cash lead over Republican Ryan Elijah, according to third-quarter campaign finance reports summarized by Florida Politics on Friday.
Voters in Seminole and Volusia counties are choosing the next member for Florida's 7th Congressional District, WESH 2 News has reported, and the seat has no incumbent on the Nov. 3 ballot because Rep. Cory Mills lost the August Republican primary to Elijah, a former TV broadcaster, who took 47% of the vote to Mills' 34% in a four-candidate field.
The numbers
Dalton, a former NASA chief of staff, reported raising almost $936,000 over the quarter that ended Sept. 30. About $177,000 of that came in before the Democratic primary, and about $759,000 came in between July 30 and the end of September.
Elijah reported more than $401,000 in contributions for the quarter. Roughly $54,000 came in a pre-primary report, while he was still running against Mills, and about $347,000 came after he won the nomination.
Over the full election cycle, Dalton has raised almost $2.14 million. Elijah, who entered the race in April, has raised about $703,000, a figure that includes $134,000 he loaned his own campaign.
Cash on hand
Dalton also spent heavily. He burned through about $1.26 million during the quarter, covering both his primary and the start of the general election campaign, and ended September with less money in the bank than he had in July.
