Government & Politics

Greco Outraises HD 19 Rival 73-1, Builds $190K War Chest

St. Augustine Republican Sam Greco raised nearly $60K in Q1 2026, signaling a dominant lead in the St. Johns County seat.

By Ray Caldwell | TC Sentinel Senior Reporter Saturday, April 18, 2026

AI-assisted reporting · Reviewed by editorial staff · Report an error

· · ·

Close-up action shot of two soccer players competing for the ball during a lively match.

Mateo Franciosi

Florida House District 19's incumbent Republican Sam Greco entered the 2026 campaign cycle with a commanding financial lead, outraising his Democratic opponent by more than 73-to-1 in the first quarter of the year — a gap that suggests the St. Augustine seat may never be seriously contested.

Greco, a St. Augustine lawyer and first-term legislator, raised nearly $60,000 between Jan. 1 and March 31 across his campaign account and the First Coast Conservative Coalition political committee, public records show. Combined with cash already on hand, he holds more than $190,000 heading into the race.

His donor list reads like a corporate lobbying index: SIG SAUER, the firearms manufacturer; RAI Services, a tobacco company; Duke Energy; and NextEra Energy — the Juno Beach-based utility giant whose decisions on power rates touch virtually every household on the Treasure Coast — all contributed to his effort.

Democratic challenger Suzanna Pavelle, a St. Augustine small business owner, reported just $2,600 raised in her first filing. Her largest single donation came from Matt Pavelle of New York City. Officials said

Greco carried November 2024's General Election with more than 60% of the vote.

For Treasure Coast political observers, the HD 19 race offers a window into how Florida's legislative map continues to produce uncompetitive contests even as national attention turns toward Florida as a swing state. The financial disparity — $190,000 versus $2,600 — makes it difficult for Pavelle to build the name recognition or ground operation needed to close a gap that was already measured in double digits at the ballot box.

The Florida Division of Elections' next campaign finance reporting deadline will determine whether Pavelle can reverse the trend before the 2026 primary season.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.