Politics
Florida matching-fund program sends another $360,000 to statewide campaigns
Florida has distributed more than $5 million in public matching funds to statewide candidates this election cycle, with gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly receiving the largest share. The voter-approved program matches small contributions from Florida residents, while separate political committees remain outside the system.
Florida’s public campaign-finance program has distributed more than $5 million to candidates for statewide office this election cycle, including nearly $360,000 in its latest round of payments, state figures posted Monday show.
The Division of Elections sent the latest funds Friday to five candidates. Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly received nearly $270,000, bringing his total from the program to more than $3 million. Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds received $66,000, raising his state-financed total to nearly $1.2 million.
The program also sent $11,000 to Democratic attorney general candidate Jose Javier Rodriguez and $5,300 to Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier. Rodriguez has received more than $372,000 in matching funds, while Uthmeier has received $179,000. Annette Taddeo, the Democratic candidate for chief financial officer, received just over $7,000, bringing her total to $81,000.
Approved by Florida voters in 1998, the program matches individual contributions of $250 or less from Florida residents to candidates for governor and the Cabinet. It was created to help candidates with less access to large donors compete in expensive statewide races.
The public payments are only one part of the campaigns’ finances. As of Oct. 16, Jolly’s campaign account had raised $11.9 million and spent nearly $9.5 million. A separate committee supporting his campaign had raised nearly $12 million and spent $9 million; political committee money does not qualify for state matching funds.
Donalds had raised nearly $17 million through his political committee and spent $13 million. His Friends of Byron Donalds PAC reported raising $141 million and spending $116 million.
In the attorney general race, Rodriguez’s campaign account had raised $1.6 million and spent $1.4 million. The supporting committee Floridians for JJR had spent most of the $1.88 million it raised. Uthmeier had raised $1.9 million through his campaign account and spent less than one-third; his Friends of James Uthmeier committee had raised $12.9 million and spent just over $7.7 million.
Taddeo’s campaign account had raised $250,000 and spent less than half, while Friends of Annette Taddeo had raised another $450,000. Incumbent CFO Blaise Ingoglia did not apply for matching funds. His campaign account had raised $1.6 million, with more than $500,000 remaining as of Oct. 16; two political committees supporting him had nearly $1 million on hand.
Over the five election cycles since the program began, Florida has distributed slightly more than $38 million to 39 campaigns. Gov. Ron DeSantis received $10.5 million through his 2018 and 2022 campaigns.