North Florida Democrat Brice Barnes is off to a quick start in her bid to flip the seat of retiring U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District.
In what her campaign says signifies “broad and significant support,” the first-time candidate amassed more than $100,000 In contributions in its first 24 hours.
““I’m overjoyed by the incredible response to our campaign launch and the overwhelming grassroots support we’ve received just in the past day,” said Barnes. “The number of people that are already supporting this campaign just goes to show that North Florida families are ready for a representative who understands their concerns and will fight for them in Congress.”
Barnes frames her campaign as a continuation of her fight for affordable housing and health equity, and says she is running to make sure everyday people have an advocate.
“They deserve a representative who focuses on the issues that matter most to the hardworking families in our state — lowering costs, protecting Panhandle industries, and making healthcare affordable and accessible — and delivers meaningful results. Together, we can build a campaign that wins, and that makes every North Florida resident’s life better.”
Barnes won’t have to file a fundraising report until July, but the press release suggests she is marshaling resources quickly as she prepares to face other Democrats in August who have had a head start on tapping donors. As of the end of last year and with Q1 2026 reports pending, Huy-Yen Cam Bailey, Amanda Marie Green, and Nicholas Zateslo had all raised more than $100,000 each.
The biggest whale in the race is on the Republican side, where Keith Gross has seeded his campaign with more than $5.5 million in self-funding, which left the former U.S. Senate candidate’s campaign now reporting over $8 million in campaign debt.
Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power is also a candidate in the Republican Primary, as is Austin Rogers, a longtime Senate staffer who most recently worked as General Counsel for U.S. Sen. Rick Scott.
Business owner Nick Lewis, Purple Heart veteran Luke Murphy, retired Washington County Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Audie Rowell and Gulf County Superintendent of Schools Jim Norton have all filed for the GOP nomination as well.
