U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds’ campaign raised $14 million in the last two months, easily outpacing his Republican and Democratic rivals in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.<\/p>\n
\nBetween his campaign account and political committee, Donalds has $65.8 million cash on hand as of June 1, according to campaign finance reports tracking fundraising from April 1 to May 31.<\/p>\n
\nQualifying for the governor’s race is set to end at noon Friday, and Donalds’ opponents are lagging him in fundraising. But GOP rival Lt. Gov. Jay Collins pulled in a $5 million contribution to give his campaign a boost.<\/p>\n
\nPropel Florida LLC, a group formed to combat Big Tech firms, made the $5 million donation. In all, Collins has nearly $6 million in his campaign account and political committee combined as of June 1.<\/p>\n
\nFormer House Speaker Paul Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, raised $105,000 in the last two months in his campaign and political committee, and has nearly $3.2 million cash on hand.<\/p>\n
\nConservative activist James Fishback raised about $450,000 in the reporting period but has spent most of it, and has $112,000 cash on hand as of June 1. His campaign finance report shows nearly $1,600 in expenses May 27-29 at the Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista. Social media posts show he spent his honeymoon at nearby Disney World at that time after getting married.<\/p>\n
\nFor Democratic field, it was largely cleared when Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced earlier this month he’s dropping his gubernatorial campaign after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.<\/p>\n
\nThat leaves former U.S. Rep. David Jolly as the only major Democratic candidate.<\/p>\n
\nJolly raised $1.2 million in April and May but has spent much of the $6 million he’s raised in the campaign so far, leaving him with $2 million cash on hand entering June.<\/p>\n
\nWhen Demings made his announcement stepping out of the race, Jolly and Donalds each expressed well wishes to him and his family, then pivoted to the general election.<\/p>\n
\n“With the announcement of Jerry Demings dropping out of the Democrat primary for Governor, the general election starts today,” Donalds posted on X.<\/p>\n
\nJolly on Wednesday named former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate, an announcement typically reserved for after the primary.<\/p>\n