Politics
Gov. DeSantis committee, Florida GOP dominate in political cash chase
Contributions included some six-figure sums from well-heeled donors.
As he continues ramping up a potential 2024 White House bid, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political committee raised nearly $3.68 million in March, according to a finance report posted Monday on the state Division of Elections website.
The Friends of Ron DeSantis committee raised $3,679,136, while spending $258,019. It had about $85.9 million in cash on hand as of March 31, the report shows.
Contributions in March included $1.5 million from James B. Whitley, an Athens, Ga., real-estate executive, and $1 million from Rural Route 3 Holdings LP, a Houston-based firm that is listed on the report as a “commodities holding” company.
Meantime, the Republican Party of Florida raised more than $8.4 million during the first three months of 2023.
That’s more than 12 times as much as the Florida Democratic Party raised, according to finance reports filed with the Division of Elections.
The GOP raised $8,432,636 during the quarter, including $1.15 million from the Seminole Tribe of Florida and $1 million from Orlando businessman Craig Mateer.
The Democratic Party raised $680,870 during the quarter, including $65,000 from Romano Law of West Palm Beach, according to the party’s report.
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