(The Center Square) — Incumbent U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla, could be coasting to an easy victory as his primary challenger struggles to raise funds.

A Democrat rival has pulled out of the race altogether and will be replaced with a new challenger.

A former surgeon from Panama City, Dunn represents Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses all or part of 16 counties in northern Florida. Former President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have endorsed Dunn.

No polling data was available on any of the candidates. However, Dunn is expected to once again win the Republican primary and his seat. He went unopposed in 2020, but faced a tough general election challenge in 2022 against Democrat former U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, who was redistricted out of his seat but chose to run against Dunn. The incumbent won with nearly 60% of the vote.

On X, Dunn stated he would continue to work hard for his district and encouraged voters to take advantage of early voting which officially opened on Aug. 10.

“EARLY VOTING is OPEN in BAY COUNTY + a number of other counties in CD-02!

I’m endorsed by @realDonaldTrump, @RonDeSantis, the @NRA, every GOP Sheriff in our district, among others. I promise to continue working hard for you every day & would be HONORED to have your vote on (or before) August 20th!” Dunn wrote on X.

Dunn’s former challenger, Democrat Meghann Hovey, announced in late July that she would be pulling out of the race, according to a report from Florida Politics.

Hovey notified the Florida Department of Elections of her intention to exit the race. In a letter to Secretary of State Cory Byrd, she stated she did so to give the Democratic Party time to find a replacement.

“I am making this announcement at this time to ensure that the Florida Democratic Party will have sufficient time in advance of the November 5, 2024 general election to designate a nominee to fill the vacancy which is occasioned by my withdrawal from the election,” Hovey wrote in a letter to Byrd.

To date, Hovey has raised $9,700, but after paying the required $10,400 qualifying fee, she ended up with an account balance of minus $740. Hovey will be replaced by Yen Bailey.

Bailey faces an uphill battle to take Dunn’s seat. Except for Gadsden and Leon counties in the Tallahassee metropolitan area, all of the other 14 counties went heavily to Trump in the 2020 election.