Tag: Geoff Burgan

Gillum collected more than $4 million right after the Aug. 28 primary, according to campaign finance reports filed on Friday. The new reports only cover donations given until the end of August. Gillum's campaign also noted that it had received nearly 40,000 donations in the immediate aftermath of his victory. A political committee controlled by DeSantis got $100,000 from a political committee controlled by the Florida Chamber of Commerce and $25,000 from U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz's re-election campaign. Republicans have held the governor's mansion for 20 years and during that time period their candidates have usually raised more money than Democrats. But leading up to the primary, it was Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam who had pulled in substantial financial support from Florida's business community and corporations. In the final weeks before the Democratic primary for governor, billionaire real estate investor Jeff Greene formed the Florida Defense Fund political committee and stocked it with $5 million. He promised to use the money to help Democrats in down ballot races after the election. "This is my vision for Florida: I will help Democrats take back the Senate, make a dent in the House, and defend Bill Nelson's U.S. Senate seat against Rick Scott," Greene said in a press release announcing the formation of the committee. Once one of the most outspoken Republicans in the Legislature, former Sen. Nancy Argenziano will be on the Florida ballot again — as the running mate of Reform Party candidate for governor Darcy Richardson.