Fort Lauderdale attorney provides Democrats with challenger to Attorney General Moody

Fort Lauderdale Democrat Jim Lewis has opened a campaign account to challenge Attorney General Ashley Moody as she seeks a second term in 2022, according to the state Division of Elections website.

In filing the paperwork Thursday, Lewis became the first candidate to enter the race against Moody.

Lewis was a losing candidate for Broward County state attorney in 2020, and he was a no-party candidate for attorney general in 2010 when Republican Pam Bondi won the seat over Democrat Dan Gelber.

The Republican incumbent had about $350,000 in cash on hand in her campaign account as of Sept. 30 and about $2.6 million on hand in her political committee, Friends of Ashley Moody, finance reports show.

Meanwhile, state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, a Republican, continues to run unopposed in 2022.

This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 2:04 PM.