Marcus Herman raises $48,000 war chest in open race for HD 31

Merritt Island businessman Marcus Herman raised $38,000 in political donations and loaned his campaign $10,000 as he runs for House District 31, covering central Brevard County and several coastal communities.

Since filing to run on July 31, he amassed the $48,000 war chest as of Sept. 30 in the open race to replace the term-limited Rep. Tyler Sirois’ seat, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

The solidly red HD 31 covers Merritt Island, Cocoa and nearby beach areas, along with Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, Patrick Space Force Base and Port Canaveral.

“I’m honored that neighbors who encouraged me to run have also stepped up financially,” Herman, a Republican, said in a press release. “I am excited by the opportunity to represent our community in Tallahassee. The common sense of a businessman with the values of a conservative is what I’m proudly offering voters in District 31.”

Herman is running in a crowded race of four other Republican candidates.

Attorney Robyn Hattaway, of Merritt Island, raised about $19,000 from July 1 to Sept. 30. She raised $105,000 cash in total since she began fundraising in 2023 and has spent about $30,000 of it so far.

Former Satellite Beach City Councilwoman Mindy Gibson raised about $2,000 during the same filing period of July 1 to Sept. 30, which brings her total chest to $13,000 along with a $10,000 loan. She has spent more than $2,00 so far.

The other two candidates don’t appear to be seriously fundraising.

Matthew Davidson Woodside, of Merritt Island, loaned his campaign $100; Marina Ann Vitale, of Merritt Island, has not raised any money.

Herman touted his fundraising numbers in a press release by his campaign, which said, “His fundraising was strictly in his campaign account, which has tighter limits than a political committee and was more than double his nearest opponent’s combined total in this quarter.”

Herman highlights his business background, his community involvement and his family as he tries to make the case for voters to elect him. He runs three businesses: Rays Tire, Triangle Auto & Tire Service and Triangle Auto & AC Repair on Merritt Island.