Over 90 employers are expected to attend Janet Cruz’s fair with up to 1,000 job openings. The job opportunities range from careers with nonprofits, health care, law enforcement, education, retail and more. Credit: Photo via office of Senator Janet Cruz
A political committee tied to state Sen. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, raised $139,250 last week as she tries to fend off a challenge in the Nov. 8 election from Republican Jay Collins, according to a newly filed finance report.

The Building the Bay committee last week also funneled $247,000 to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which is headed by Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, and is spearheading efforts to elect Democratic Senate candidates.

Among the contributions last week to the Building the Bay committee were $50,000 from a Florida Education Association political committee and $15,000 from the organization Ban Assault Weapons Now, according to the filing posted on the state Division of Elections website.

The committee had about $47,000 in cash on hand as of Friday. Cruz and Collins are running in a redrawn Senate District 14 in Hillsborough County.

This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2022.