Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis’ war chest is growing in a reelection bid for Florida governor against Democrat Charlie Crist.
According to latest campaign finance records, DeSantis’ campaign collected just over $1.1 million in contributions from 10,919 individuals and businesses between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2. Fundraising for DeSantis, who seeks a second term, is up from the previous reporting term. Around $814,000 in contributions flowed into his campaign between Aug. 20 and Aug. 28.
In total, DeSantis’ reelection campaign has raised north of $22 million since November 2021, compared to Crist’s $9.9 million raised since May 2021.
DeSantis’ campaign has spent $12.8 million so far.
Adding to DeSantis’ contributions are the tens of millions being raked in by the Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC. Since his run for governor in 2018, the PAC has gathered more than $184 million. Since November 2021, the PAC has collected more than $77 million.
Crist’s campaign gathered a little over $881,000 from 17,404 contributions from people and businesses between Aug. 27 and Sept. 2. That’s slightly down from the week before when Crist’s campaign collected a little over $1 million. The former governor from 2007 to 2011 and representative of Florida’s U.S. House District 13 dating back to 2017, Crist’s campaign has spent $7.5 million since the summer of 2021.
As for Crist’s PAC, the Friends of Charlie Crist has raised a little more than $8.5 million since May 2021. Crist won a Democratic primary over various challengers, including Nikki Fried, last August. Crist secured 59% of the vote followed by Fried, who received 35% of the vote.
Crist has been endorsed by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, Communications Workers of America and Democratic Public Education Caucus, among other organizations and officials.
“Floridians want a governor who cares about them to solve real problems, who preserves freedom, not a bully who divides us and takes our freedom away,” Crist said following his primary victory last month.
DeSantis has gathered endorsements from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Everglades Trust, Florida Realtors, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Florida Retail Federation and Florida Professional Firefighters, among other groups.
“I promised to leave Florida to God better than we found it,” he said following his endorsement from the Everglades Trust. “We have made good on that promise, securing $3.3 billion in funding for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources.”
DeSantis is running alongside current Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nuñez, while Crist’s running mate is Karla Hernandez, who serves as president of the United Teachers of Dade.
