DeSantis’ state-level committee fundraising slows in April as super PAC gains steam
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – According to April’s campaign finance records from the Florida Department of State, Friends of Ron DeSantis, the governor’s political committee, has slowed its fundraising in April to approximately $161,000.
The slowdown comes off of a $3.6 million month of March and nearly $10 million in February.
In total, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ committee has a war chest of around $85 million.
That state-level committee cannot directly run a federal campaign. The funds would need to be transferred to federally registered committee, should DeSantis announce a run for president.
A 2024 run has been speculated for months, a notion the governor has consistently replied could come “very soon” after the Florida Legislature ends its session, which occurred last week.
“So, you’re just gonna have to stay tuned on all this,” he said to laughter from a crowd last Thursday. “You’ll get there, one way or another, very soon – so you just have to do it.”
The state-level committee was used for DeSantis’ recent gubernatorial campaigns in 2018 and 2022.
On the federal level, DeSantis has no official organization.
But a DeSantis-supporting super PAC called Never Back Down emerged earlier in 2023 – officially run independently from DeSantis’ political team.
According to a report from POLITICO, the national group is bolstering the governor’s aggregate war chest.
Never Back Down is run by Ken Cuccinelli and has raised more than $33 million as of late-April.
The group is also reportedly expanding operations into other states in preparation for the 2024 primary.
DeSantis, not having announced a run yet, has had a slower roll of presidential endorsements in comparison to former President Donald Trump, who recently gathered the favor of many Florida Republican representatives.
Former Trump spokesman Steve Cortes endorsed DeSantis for president on Tuesday, saying he is the “best possible option.”
“Our America First movement has always been bigger and more important than any one individual, and heading into this crucial election, our activism and our votes must be guided by a clear-eyed assessment of recent failures and potential future successes,” Cortes said.
