If fundraising is any indication, US Rep Vern Buchanan will have a tough race on his hands come November. Siesta Key Democrat David Shapiro announced this week that his congressional campaign raised just over $400K in the first quarter of 2018, only $70K less than Buchanan added to his war chest. Shapiro now has raised more than $650,000 in his campaign and appears to be the toughest challenge to the Longboat Key Republican in years. Buchanan has recently come under fire for being a key figure in passing the recent tax overhaul, which the Tampa Tribune says stands to benefit him to the tune of $80 million.
