Fla. Dem Murphy has $1.75M in the bank

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.) raised more than half a million dollars for the fourth fundraising quarter in a row and now has $1.75 million cash in the bank, his campaign announced Monday.

Murphy has consistently been one of the House’s strongest fundraisers as he prepares for what’s expected to be a tough battle to hold his seat.

At least five Republicans have already entered the race, and the freshman lawmaker is a top GOP target. Florida’s 18th congressional district is a swing district that broke for Republican Mitt Romney in 2012 but voted for President Obama four years earlier. 

Murphy narrowly defeated Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.), a Tea Party favorite, last cycle in one of the nation’s nastiest and most expensive races. 

The Democrat was a prolific fundraiser last cycle as well, raising more than $4.7 million for his last race.