Agriculture Commissioner Backs Republican Huntley in HD 45 Race

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson has endorsed Republican Erin Huntley in her bid to unseat Democrat state Rep. Leonard Spencer in House District 45, which covers parts of Orange and Osceola counties.

The endorsement adds one of Florida's highest-profile statewide officials to a list that already includes U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon, and state Reps. Doug Bankson, Erika Booth, Susan Plasencia, and Paula Stark. Webster recently announced he will not seek re-election to Congress.

"Erin is the kind of leader you can trust to stand firm, defend our communities, and fight for Florida's future," Simpson said in a statement.

Huntley, who serves as Orange County GOP chair, cannot face Spencer in November until she clears the Aug. 18 Republican primary against Raleigh "Lee" Steinhauer. The two candidates enter that contest with a stark financial gap: Huntley holds roughly $160,000 in her official campaign account plus approximately $62,000 through her political committee, Conservative Solutions for Florida. Steinhauer's campaign carries about $39,000 in cash—including a $20,000 personal loan he made to himself last year—with his political committee, Friends of Lee Steinhauer, adding another $13,000.

Spencer, meanwhile, holds about $34,000 in his official campaign account, including a $15,000 self-loan made in January, with his political committee, Friends of Leonard Spencer, holding roughly $52,000 in cash.

The August primary will determine which Republican faces Spencer in the fall. State Republicans have targeted HD 45 as a pickup opportunity in a district that straddles two of Central Florida's most competitive counties.

The Aug. 18 primary is the next critical date to watch for voters in the district.

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