Hillsborough parties announce speakers for signature fundraising galas

The Republican Party of Hillsborough County will hold one of its biggest annual fundraising events, the Reagan Day dinner, Oct. 13, with Sen. Rick Scott and Suzy Lopez, the state attorney appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, as the leading speakers. The emcee of the event will be Will Witt, editor of the right-wing political newsletter Florida Standard.

The Hillsborough Democrats, meanwhile, will hold their comparable event, the Kennedy-King Gala, September 23, with Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, U.S. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Orlando and political thriller author David Pepper. Pepper’s books include The People’s House — which focuses on an election stolen by fraud.

The GOP event will be at the International Event Venue on Hillsborough Avenue, with tickets ranging from $100 for general admission to the dinner up to $15,000 for a package of multiple seats, admission to a VIP reception and seating with the political celebrities.

DeSantis appointed Lopez after removing Andrew Warren, the elected Democratic state attorney, accusing Warren of dereliction of duty. Warren and Lopez have since become local political champions in their respective parties.

DeSantis, who has had a chilly relationship with Scott, spoke at the party’s similar Lincoln Day event in March.

The Democratic event will be at the Tampa Convention Center with tickets ranging from $150 for general admission to the dinner and a reception, and up to $11,500 for packages of tickets, VIP reception tickets and seating with speakers or political VIP’s.