Democratic Rep. Darren Soto again outraised Republican lawyer Will McBride in the race for Senate District 14, though the deep-pocketed McBride began spending cash on television advertising.
Soto raised $19,000 in the reporting period from Aug. 10 to Sept. 14, while McBride raised $16,000.
But McBride, who had earlier loaned his campaign $205,000 and is trying to prove to Republican Senate leaders that it is worth devoting money to his race, also outspent Soto more than 3-to-1 during the period for a Senate seat that takes in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods in Orange, Osceola and Polk counties. McBride spent $87,000 — $78,000 of that on television air time —while Soto spent $27,000.