Fundraising remains slow in Margolis, Campbell Senate race

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Sen. Gwen Margolis, a fixture in South Florida politics for four decades, spent $21,462 last month, mostly on consultants and advertising, in what has grown into a five-way primary for a heavily Democratic Senate seat in northeastern Miami-Dade County. Margolis, a former Senate president, raised $9,765 during April, slightly more than the $9,585 posted by her most-prominent challenger, state Rep. Daphne Campbell, according to newly posted reports on the Florida Division of Elections website. Campbell, a three-term member of the House, spent $4,760 in April and started May with $13,351 on hand. Margolis has now raised $78,990, loaned her campaign $50,000 and spent $56,055. Anis Blemur, who unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat in 2014, reported raising $1,460 in April, bringing his overall contributions to $3,195. Blemur has also loaned the campaign $10,020 and spent $3,600. Another Democrat, Don Festge, posted $1,185 for his April contributions, while spending $304. He has now received $2,065 of which $467 has been spent. Philip Brutus, a former state House member from North Miami, has not reported receiving any money, instead filing for a waiver for the third consecutive month. No Republicans have opened campaign accounts to run for the District 38 seat.