Hello Jim,

The campaign for Florida's House District 76 is now one of the most hotly-contested races in the state AND PRESENTS EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEMOCRATS

A 2nd Republican, Steve Cerrache, has entered the race after incumbent Spencer Roach dropped out. He'll go up against Vanessa Grant Oliver in the GOP primary August 20th. I'll likely face one of them in the general election November 5th. But it's already proven to be an unpredictable race.

SO WHAT'S NEXT?

Read on for my analysis.

WHO IS STEVE CERRACHE?

Click to Watch

Vanessa Grant Oliver jumped into the District 76 race as soon as three-term incumbent Spencer Roach decided to drop out. Roach's departure was puzzling, since he had agreed to debate me just two weeks earlier. Grant Oliver has served one term as an Charlotte Co. Airport Commissioner. But she was always angling for something bigger. And now she hopes to follow in her father Mike Grant's footsteps.

Mike Grant, (R) Dist. 75, has been in the legislature on-and-off for 20 years. He is the current Majority Leader in the House. But he is term-limited and can't run for re-election. So he hand-picked real estate developer Danny Nix to succeed him in District 75. Grant Oliver plus Nix would give the long-time Tallahassee power broker a chance to extend his dynasty. But ONLY if they win. And WE HAVE OTHER PLANS!

Keep reading!!

BIG NEWS

All this has generated headlines locally and across Florida. Click here to see some background on NBC2, including Roach's scathing take on his own party.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OPPORTUNITIES

The chaos in the Republican Party has created openings for OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATS.

And we are planning to FLIP both District 75 and 76 with strong candidates in both. Plus we have the strongest SLATE OF LOCAL DEMOCRATS in decades.

Some of those candidates gathered at Tony Dunbar and Nancy Shoemaker's home in Englewood on Thursday.

Left to right: Barbara Ford-Coates, Sarasota Tax Collector -- Lisa Baird, Candidate for Charlotte Co. Commission, Dist. 5 -- Matthew Montavon, Candidate for Congress, Dist. 17 -- Alan Sprintz, Candidate for Sarasota Hospital Board at Large, Seat 1 -- George Davis, MD, Sarasota Hospital Board at Large, Seat 3 -- Jim Blue, Candidate for FL House, Dist. 76

Jim Blue and Lisa Baird

Manny Lopez, Candidate for Congress, Dist. 17 and Jim Blue

Tony Dunbar, Candidate for FL House Dist. 75 -- Nancy Shoemaker -- Lisa Baird and Jim

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