Money trickles in to Margolis-Campbell Senate race

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

As state Rep. Daphne Campbell challenges Sen. Gwen Margolis in a heavily Democratic Senate district, little money flowed into the race in March, according to newly filed finance reports. Margolis raised $5,000 during the month, with all of the money coming from real-estate investment groups, reports posted on the state Division of Elections website show. In all, Margolis had raised $69,225 as of March 31 and had spent $34,593. She has also loaned $50,000 to her campaign. The candidates are running in the redrawn Senate District 38, which takes up parts of northeastern Miami-Dade County. Meanwhile, Campbell, a three-term member of the House, did not raise any money in March, while spending $1,760. Margolis and Campbell could not raise money until after the legislative session ended March 11. Prior to the start of session, Campbell had received $15,624 in contributions. Anis Blemur, an accountant who unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in 2014, reported $1,585 in contributions in March. Blemur, who filed to run in February, has also loaned the campaign $10,020. Don Allen Festge, a teacher at the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School who filed to run in February, posted $880 in contributions and a $100 loan from himself for his March numbers. Philip Brutus, an attorney and former state House member, did not report receiving any money. The race does not include any Republicans.