Emily Duda Buckley, one of three Republican candidates filed in the House District 38 race to replace term-limited incumbent David Smith, has now raised $215,000, her campaign announced this week.
That includes nearly $67,000 raised in the third quarter of 2025. That brings the total raised between her campaign[1] and affiliated political committee, Fostering Florida’s Future[2], to more than $215,000, with about $201,000 still on hand.
Duda Buckley’s third-quarter fundraising totals are self-reported. Campaign finance reports are not due to the Division of Elections[3] until Friday, covering financial activity from July 1 through Sept. 30.
“I am honored that so many Central Floridians are placing their trust in me to fight in the State House,” Duda Buckley said. “Affordability is rightfully the number one issue on voters’ minds, and I know we must reduce property taxes, lower insurance rates, and keep our communities safe to protect future generations. I’m excited to get back on the campaign trail and keep meeting with local voters.”
Duda Buckley is one of three Republicans filed to replace Smith. She filed for the race[4] in April, joining Marcus Hyatt[5] and Austyn Cydney Spell[6], who both entered the race in December.
Spell hasn’t reported any fundraising activity, and didn’t file a report for the second quarter.
Hyatt has already filed[7] his third-quarter report, posting more than $11,000 raised. That brings his total campaign haul to just shy of $31,000, with a little less than $30,000 still on hand.
Duda Buckley was born and raised in Central Florida. She attended Florida State University and became a Guardian Ad Litem while attending college. Later, she became a licensed foster parent.
She serves with the Florida Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents and the 4Roots Foundation, where she provides resources to adoptive and foster parents. Her goal is to drive needed change within the child welfare system.
HD 38 is anchored in southwest Seminole County and includes the cities of Altamonte Springs, Casselberry and Winter Springs.
No Democrat has yet entered the race. It could be a competitive open race. The constituency is about 34% Democrats and about 33% Republicans, with nearly 30% of the electorate not affiliated with a political party, according to the most recent L2 voter data[8].
And Smith won the race last year by fewer than 700 votes against Democrat Sarah Henry. He faced her in 2022 too, posting a much stronger performance that year, as a red wave swept the state even as Democrats overperformed elsewhere. Then, Smith secured more than 52% of the vote, a difference of about 3,000 votes.
Duda Buckley lives in Oviedo with her two children, Jack and Keira June.
References
- ^ campaign (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ Fostering Florida’s Future (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ due to the Division of Elections (files.floridados.gov)
- ^ filed for the race (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Marcus Hyatt (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ Austyn Cydney Spell (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ already filed (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ L2 voter data (www.l2datamapping.com)