FL-HD60: Lindsay Cross (D) faces Ed Montanari (R) in a race that puts Democrats on the defense [View all]

House District 60, nestled within the city of St. Petersburg, is one of the rare opportunities across the state for Republicans to further grow their supermajority. And the party believes they have the right man for the job in Ed Montanari.

But getting past incumbent Democratic state Rep. Lindsay Cross won’t be an easy feat, and Montanari faces a couple of big obstacles. He’s running against a popular incumbent, and the district still favors Democrats.

Montanari, a current member of the St. Pete City Council who is term-limited out of office this year, is exactly the type of candidate GOP strategists imagine for a district like HD 60. It’s blue, but not blue enough to be out of reach. And Montanari is a strong conservative, but he’s shown plenty of ability to work across the aisle and don a moderate hat.

Cross, meanwhile, is also a great candidate for a somewhat swingy district — though her campaign would argue this district is not one of those. She’s become skilled at bringing home resources for her constituents, despite serving in the minority party. And Republican colleagues, though they disagree with her on partisan issues, have worked with her on legislation.

So what should voters expect as the votes are tallied Tuesday night? In 2024, nothing should be ruled out, but it’s likely the race will be close. Here are some things to watch in the matchup between Montanari and Cross.



https://floridapolitics.com/archives/703517-lindsay-cross-faces-ed-montanari-in-a-race-that-puts-democrats-on-the-defense/