Miller, Sturgill campaigns spar over fundraising

GOP congressional candidates Mike Miller and Scott Sturgill continued their fundraising battle in the first quarter of 2018 in the race to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy — including sizable loans from the candidates themselves.

Sturgill’s campaign called for other Republicans to drop out following the first quarter reports, while Miller’s campaign raised the issue of Sturgill’s 2011 bankruptcy.

But Murphy continued to out raise both of them, according to her campaign.

Sanford businessman Sturgill’s campaign raised more than $211,000 from January through March, according to FEC filings, including another $50,000 loan to the campaign from Sturgill himself. Altogether, he’s loaned his campaign $150,000 for a fundraising total of more than $519,000. His campaign has about $366,000 cash on hand so far in April, the FEC reported.

State Rep. Miller, R-Winter Park, raised more than $106,000 from January through March, a period that included the state legislative session when active fundraising by representatives is limited. That number included a $25,000 loan to his campaign from Miller himself.

Altogether, Miller’s campaign has raised more than $327,000 in total, with about $271,000 cash on hand in April.

Murphy, D-Winter Park, raised more than $400,000 from January through March.

She has $1.1 million cash on hand in April after raising more than $1.75 million in total.