Kelly Ann Walker, a local Young Republicans leader, just jumped into the race to succeed state Rep. James Buchanan.
“We’re building a movement powered by the people of District 74 — rooted in service, guided by integrity, and focused on keeping Florida First,” Walker said.
“Our community deserves a representative who will stand with President Trump and Governor (Ron) DeSantis, defending our values and never backing down. Fighting for conservative principles and policies is my priority.”
Walker notably filed her paperwork[1] to run on Oct. 1, and has raised money quickly. She formally launched her campaign Wednesday with $200,000 in cash on hand.
That could be important as the Sarasota Republican enters a crowded Republican Primary field.
Republicans Chris Felder, Carl Joseph Goodrich, Les Nichols, Nick Pachota and Jennifer Winkler are already running for the open seat.
Of those, the most significant fundraiser[2] has been Pachota, who has reported more than $89,000 in donations through the end of September and closed the quarter with more than $74,000 cash in his candidate account. His Friends of Nick Pachota[3] account raised another nearly $76,000, with $70,000 of that still unspent.
Democrat Nancy Simpson, a frequent Buchanan opponent, has also filed, but the district leans heavily Republican. Buchanan won almost 65% of the vote over Simpson in November, and according to MCI Maps[4], more than 62% of voters in the district supported Donald Trump for President.
Walker, in addition to entering the race with a significant amount of cash at the ready, also has been active in politics. A New York native who moved to Florida in 2005, the Lakewood Ranch High School graduate has worked in offices for both U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Greg Steube, both Sarasota County Republicans. She also served as secretary of the Secretary for the Sarasota-Manatee Young Republicans.
The daughter of a farmer and a law enforcement officer, she was active in high school in Future Farmers of American, the Junior ROTC and the varsity flag football team. She graduated from Stetson University, where she earned a bachelor’s in Political Science.
She now serves on the board for the Central Florida Hockey Warriors, which aids disabled veterans.
“Florida’s future is in our hands, and it deserves leaders who serve with integrity, not entitlement,” Walker said. “My life has shaped within me a servant’s heart and a firm belief that public office is about service, not power. Accountability must always outweigh ambition. With fresh energy and bold leadership, together we can protect the values that make the Great State of Florida truly great.”
Buchanan cannot run for the seat again because of term limits, and is instead running for a Senate seat[5].
References
- ^ paperwork (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ significant fundraiser (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Friends of Nick Pachota (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ MCI Maps (substackcdn.com)
- ^ Senate seat (floridapolitics.com)