TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Florida’s Republican Party and fundraising committees chaired by House Speaker Renner and Senate President Passidomo raised in excess of $14.3 million in the first quarter of this year – while the Florida Democratic Party only reached around $940,000, Politico reports.
Fundraising is prohibited when the Legislature is in session. But before then, large donations poured in to Republicans. Among the major donors are corporate interest groups such as Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida.
Politico states that much of the funds also come from auto dealers, insurers, utilities and real estate companies – plus Publix Supermarkets, which pinched in $275,000 and medical marijuana company Trulieve that sent $150,000.
Some of the absolute biggest donors are the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which wrote the Republicans an $1.3 million dollar check, followed by Orlando businessman Craig Mateer, who donated $1 million.
