Major donors to Biden, Clinton and Lincoln Project fund anti-Tom Leek attacks in SD 7
This is a developing story.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Long-time and frequent Democratic donors are helping fund attacks on Florida Senate District 7 GOP candidate Tom Leek, a Florida’s Voice investigation has revealed.
The donors have given thousands of dollars to Democrats like President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Rep. Charlie Crist, former Sen. Bill Nelson, former Rep. Val Demings and others.
According to financial records from OpenSecrets and the Florida Department of State, the political committee “The Truth Matters” has garnered nearly $2 million in Q2 2024 alone from Floridians for Accountability, Freedom and Opportunity, another political committee.
The Truth Matters runs a website called “Liberal Leek,” scathing the current state representative over claims of donating to “liberal Democrats,” among other attacks. It also calls Leek an “insurance executive” who personally benefitted off Florida insurance legislation.
Floridians for Accountability, Freedom and Opportunity – the major backer behind the anti-Leek group – has received nearly $170,000 from four donors: Robert Spohrer, Eric Ragatz, Erik Abrahamson and Jennifer Lipinski, all through their respective law firms.
Spohrer gave money to Clinton for her 2016 presidential bid, along with Biden, New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, former President Barack Obama, Demings, Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and The Lincoln Project, to name several.
Ragatz donated thousands of dollars to Crist in 2022, along with Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly that same year. He has donated to Crist since 2006.
Abrahamson has given at least $50,000 to the Florida Democratic Party, along with donating to Biden, Crist, Nelson, and 2022 Democratic Senate candidates seeking reelection Raphael Warnock, Catherine Cortez Masto and Mark Kelly. Abrahamson has also given to The Lincoln Project.
Lipinski has given money to Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown for the 2024 election cycle, along with Biden. She has also donated to the Florida Democratic Party, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Demings, Warnock and others.
Former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, a fellow Republican, is also seeking Senate District 7. The other Republican filed is Gerald James, and there is only one Democrat filed – George Hill II.
The district includes St. Johns, Putman, Flagler and northern Volusia County. The primary takes place Aug. 20, and general election Nov. 5. It is currently represented by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-Palm Coast.
