Republican Melissa Rutland is building a financial edge over Democrat Lindsay Polega-Quigley in the race for an open House District 60 seat, where both parties are preparing for a competitive fight in November.
The candidates are running to succeed Democratic Rep. Lindsay Cross, who opted not to seek another term and endorsed Polega-Quigley. Neither candidate faced primary opposition, sending both directly into the Nov. 3 General Election.
Through Aug. 21, Rutland had roughly $70,000 on hand between her campaign and Friends of Melissa Rutland, a political committee formed to support her candidacy. Polega-Quigley had just under $45,000 between her campaign and Leadership, Progress, & Quality PC, her associated political committee.
That $25,000 difference gives Rutland more room to spend as the race enters its final two months. She has raised more than $103,000 through her campaign since entering the race in June, compared with less than $62,000 for Polega-Quigley. Rutland’s committee has added another $17,500, while Polega-Quigley’s has raised about $4,750.
The latest reports show the gap continuing to grow. Rutland raised more than $11,000 from Aug. 14-21, while Polega-Quigley collected less than $5,000 through her campaign and another $500 through her committee.
Both candidates are also getting substantial help from their respective parties. Republican organizations have provided Rutland with more than $45,000 in in-kind support for expenses including staffing, consulting and research. Polega-Quigley has received nearly $33,000 in Democratic in-kind support, including $23,000 from the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee for research.
Unlike cash contributions, in-kind support can include staff, consulting, research or other goods and services paid for on a campaign’s behalf. Political committees also operate separately from candidate accounts and are not subject to the same contribution limits.
The investment reflects the attention surrounding HD 60. Democrats hold only a modest voter-registration advantage among the district’s more than 108,000 voters, and that gap has narrowed in recent election cycles.
Cross, however, twice won the district under its current boundaries. She took 54.2% against Republican Audrey Henson in 2022, and 53.6% against former St. Petersburg City Council member Ed Montanari in 2024.
Her decision not to seek reelection removed the advantage of incumbency and set off an immediate scramble for the seat. Polega-Quigley entered with Cross’ endorsement, while Republicans quickly consolidated around Rutland after another GOP hopeful, Bill Mitchell, withdrew and endorsed her.
Rutland has since picked up support from Republican members of the Pinellas legislative delegation, a majority of the Pinellas County Commission and several county constitutional officers.
The money now gives Rutland another advantage heading into the final stretch, while Polega-Quigley is trying to keep a seat Democrats have held since the current district was drawn in 2022.