Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Demings hauls in $8.4 million in third quarter
Rubio brings in $6 million
TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Rep. Val Demings pulled in $8.4 million for her U.S. Senate campaign from July through September her campaign announced, the largest of any U.S. Senate candidate in that period.
The haul is more than incumbent U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s $6 million showing, which boosted Democratic hopes of flipping his seat in 2022.
In a memo, Demings campaign manager Zack Carroll said the funds came from 308,000 donations. The memo didn’t state how many people made multiple donations.
“With such generous support from hardworking people, we are making smart investments that will ensure our victory,” Carroll wrote. “We have invested millions in digital infrastructure that will pay dividends down the road as we build a true grassroots army.”
The report comes on the heels of the $4.6 million Demings raised in June, when she formally entered the race three weeks before the second quarter finance reporting deadline.
Rubio, though, has about $9.6 million cash on hand to Demings’ $6 million.
Demings’ report is far more than any previous U.S. Senate candidate at this point in the election cycle. In the third quarter of 2017, thenU.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, raised $1.75 million.
Financing will likely be crucial to the outcome of the race.
Nelson eventually lost that race in 2018 U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Naples, by 10,033 votes out of nearly 8.2 million cast, a margin of 0.12%. Scott outspent Nelson $83.5 million to $32.9 million.
Spending by outside groups will also play a role. The National Republican Senatorial Committee reported raising $25 million in the third quarter. Its Democratic counterpart hasn’t yet announced third-quarter figures.
Despite the large third-quarter report, Carroll warned that Demings’ and the Democrats’ resources will “pale in comparison” to those Rubio and Republicans will raise and spend.
“Make no mistake: we expect to get outspent, and our historically strong fundraising will simply allow us to keep up with the tens of millions of dollars wealthy special interests will dump into Florida on Marco Rubio’s behalf next year,” Carroll stated.
Rubio’s campaign declined to comment.
In other statewide races, Democrats are far behind their Republican rivals.
No major Democratic candidate has entered the Cabinet races for Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner or Chief Financial Officer. And the Democratic candidates for governor, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, have decidedly fewer resources than Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis’ political committee pulled in $5.4 million in September and has $58.3 million cash on hand. Crist’s committee raised $307,000 in September and has $2.1 million cash on hand. Fried raised $195,000 last month and has a $2.4 million war chest.