Governor Ron DeSantis’ political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, has raised over $23 million in 2021, and nearly $14 million of the total was raised during April alone. During April, the campaign received primarily two large sums of money, one was for over $5 million from Chicago-based hedge funder Kenneth Griffin, and the other was a $2.8 million donation from the Republican Governors’ Association. Griffin was one of DeSantis’ primary contributors to his 2018 gubernatorial run.
DeSantis has not formally filed the paperwork to run for reelection in 2022, but the account is ramping up donations, indicating a DeSantis campaign is likely imminent.
Over 30 contributions came in totaling over $50,000, 139 contributions over $25,000, and 86 contributions of $100 to $500.
DeSantis, coming off a hot March and April, has already exceeded then-Governor Rick Scott’s reelection campaign contributions during the same month, eight years ago. Currently, DeSantis has a total campaign chest of nearly $32 million, far outperforming any of DeSantis’ potential and announced challengers.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who’s political committee Florida Consumers First, has so far brought in $1.5 million with $361,586 coming in April. Fried, who also has not yet officially announced her run for governor, has long been rumored to be a challenger to DeSantis.
Fried’s contributions are of primarily smaller amounts, however the committee has received the majority of its money from groups called Actions Matter PC, Citizens for a United Florida, and Equal Justice PC. The total of those groups contributed over $262,000.
Recently announced gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist, has yet to report his initial campaign contributions to the Florida Department of State since his political committee was officially launch on May 3. However, Crist has been on the campaign trail making stops, raising money since his campaign launch on May 4.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Ron DeSantis” by Gage Skidmore CC 2.0.
