Pictured: Vern Buchanan, Margaret Good

The Sarasota-Bradenton area appears likely to host another multi-million congressional campaign in 2020.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, announced this week he raised $524,000 in the final quarter of 2019. Now state Rep. Margaret Good, D-Sarasota, revealed she raised $362,000 over the same period if her effort to unseat the incumbent.

“I’m grateful for the thousands of supporters who are working with us to create positive change and who, like me, are focused on ensuring this district has the representation it deserves,” Good said. “I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far—this is just the beginning.”

Buchanan over the course of 2019 raised $1.91 million for the 2020 cycle.

"We’re honored to receive such broad support from people across the district who are responding to Vern’s effective and successful record of fighting for seniors, veterans, middle-class families, the environment and the protection of animals,” said Max Goodman, Buchanan’s campaign manager.

Of course, the fourth quarter totals come on the heels of a third quarter where Good outraised Buchanan, raking in $450,000 while the incumbent collected $356,000. And Good’s team notes that at that point, Buchanan reported $534,000 in cash on hand. That’s because Buchanan this year paid back a candidate loan he put into his campaign coffers during his 2018 race against David Shapiro.

In the end, Buchanan bested Shapiro by 10 percent, and the incumbent emits confidence about his race against Good as well. But Good, recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has been heralded as the toughest candidate to challenge Buchanan in years.

Regardless, the money already flowing into the region shows both sides expect to spend heavily on the 2020 contest.

Pictured: Vern Buchanan, Margaret Good