2023-07-17 15:40:56
From left to right, former President Donald J. Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis, and Mayor Francis Suárez. Miami Herald Staff
Ron DeSantis is the king of fundraising in Florida, at least for now.
Though polls show state voters prefer former President Donald Trump over his two in-state rivals, DeSantis and Mayor Francis Suarez, it’s the state governor who raised the most money among Sunshine State residents last quarter. fundraising, according to an analysis of the documents presented over the weekend before the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC).
DeSantis easily edged out Trump and Suarez, raising $6.8 million among Floridians in Florida since entering the GOP presidential primary on May 24; Trump, whose Mar-a-Lago residence is in Palm Beach, has raised $1.5 million in the state since early April, the analysis showed; and Suárez has raised some $700,000 since he announced his candidacy on June 14.
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For now, support in the Sunshine State is more of a bragging rights than a central part of any candidate’s electoral strategy, though the Florida primary on March 19 could prove crucial if the GOP primary remains competitive. until then.
Fundraising data analysis only includes contributions of $200 or more, which require donors to identify themselves to the FEC. The analysis covers the reports presented by the candidates’ campaign committees, which are their main accounts. Most candidates employ a multi-pronged fundraising approach, which includes receiving support from groups with unlimited fundraising and spending power, such as superPACs, who don’t have to file financial reports until the end of the month.
In all, of DeSantis’ nearly $17 million in detailed donations, more than 40% came from Floridians, indicating the extent to which his campaign relies on his popularity and influence in his home state.
In fact, Suárez got a higher proportion of his detailed contributions, 76%, from Floridians. The mayor raised $694,000 in the state of the $916,000 he raised in total.
Of the three Florida candidates, Suárez has the lowest national profile and is even less well known than DeSantis or Trump. Most of Suarez’s fundraising, according to FEC documents, came from South Florida.
DeSantis’s dominance of fundraising in Florida is no surprise: Veteran political strategists said a sitting governor has an inherent advantage when raising money within his own state, aided by lobbyists and other major donors who are wary of angering the incumbent while he is still running the state government. The former federal lawmaker is also immensely popular with the state’s conservative community, which praises his record as governor.
But DeSantis’ lead in Florida hasn’t quieted larger concerns about the state of his campaign finances, which came under scrutiny after he filed documents with the FEC on Saturday showing he spent nearly half — $8 million. — of the $20 million he raised in the first five weeks of his campaign.
A campaign adviser confirmed Sunday that he had laid off nearly 10 employees last week to cut spending. (Politico was first to report the reduction in staff.) Staff reductions are a worrisome sign for any candidate, especially so early in the race and for a campaign once expected to be a financial juggernaut.
DeSantis officials said the campaign is focused on developing an effort that can build support for the governor between now and the start of next year’s primaries.
“Americans are rallying behind Ron DeSantis and his plan to reverse Joe Biden’s failures and restore sanity to our nation, and his momentum will only continue as voters see him more in person, especially in Iowa.” said campaign spokesman Andrew Romeo. “Defeating Joe Biden and the $72 million backing him will require a nimble, candidate-driven campaign and we are building a movement to see it through to the end.”
DeSantis outperformed even Suarez in Miami-Dade County, according to the FEC’s data analysis, raising nearly $760,000 from the area compared to $625,000 Suarez raised from his home territory.
Trump raised $120,000 from Miami-Dade County residents.
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