New campaign finance reports show City Commissioner and Tallahassee mayoral candidate Jeremy Matlow building on the momentum he gained after taking the top spot in first round voting on Aug. 18.
Between Aug. 14 and Aug. 21, Matlow raised over $12,000 from 99 individual donors and self-funded an additional $10,000. Former Sen. Loranne Ausley, who also advanced to the runoff, raised more than $7,100 from 23 individual donors.
Excluding his own loans, Matlow’s average donor gave $122, compared with an average contribution of $311 for Ausley. Two of Matlow’s donors reside outside of Tallahassee, while Ausley received eight contributions from out-of-town donors.
The two candidates spent roughly similar $13,000 totals over the same one-week period. Ausley has significantly outspent Matlow thus far — $345,000 to $191,600 — but Matlow now has the edge in cash on hand. He reports $50,000 in available funds to the $34,000 Ausley has remaining.
Both Ausley and civil rights lawyer Daryl Parks considerably outspent Matlow, but that didn’t stop him from finishing first in the Aug. 18 Primary with 36% of the vote. Ausley took 33.8%, followed by Parks at 25.3% and IT entrepreneur Michael Foust with 4.9%.
Matlow was also the biggest target of millions in spending from outside PACs and committees, including spending and door-knocking by Republicans.
Despite his first place finish in August, getting to 50% in November remains an uphill climb for Matlow, who cast himself as the most progressive choice. Parks has endorsed the more moderate Ausley, and Foust was a registered Republican.
Incumbent Mayor John Dailey, a centrist with whom Matlow has frequently sparred, has yet to formally endorse anyone in the race. Dailey announced last August that he would not seek a third term. He was re-elected four years ago after overcoming a bruising challenge from his left by Leon County Commissioner Kristin Dozier.
Like Matlow, Dozier led the first round voting in 2022, only to suffer a narrow defeat in November. Progressives in the capital city are hoping for a different General Election outcome this time around.