DeSantis Raises MASSIVE $8.2 Million In First 24 Hours Fundraising, Campaign War Chest Expected To Exceed $200 Million

Even after a botched presidential launch in a Twitter Space, new GOP candidate Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has raised an immense $8.2 million within his first 24 hours of fundraising for his presidential campaign. 

The New York Times released the numbers, showing that it was a massive gap of $6.3 million more than current President Joe Biden garnered in his first 24 hours of fundraising. The number is also believed to be more than Donald Trump’s first 24 hours of fundraising for his 2024 campaign, but as the Trump campaign hasn’t made those numbers public it is unknown. The speculation is based on the number that Trump released at his six-week mark of fundraising, which is $9.5 million, only $1.3 million more than DeSantis’ first 24 hours. 

It is important to note, however, that DeSantis' launch wasn't record breaking with that trophy going towards President Trump's 2020 reelection campaign where he raised $24.8 million in the first 24 hours of his campaign, per The New York Times.

“This historic fundraising haul shows that grassroots Republicans across the country are uniting behind Governor DeSantis’ vision for our Great American Comeback,” campaign manager Generra Peck stated on the success. “Governor DeSantis has built the strongest, most sophisticated organization in the history of American politics, and the tremendous support we’ve experienced in the last 24 hours will be critical as we hit the ground running in the early nominating states to share Governor DeSantis’ plan to revitalize the American Spirit.”

The $8.2 million is only the start, as a pro-DeSantis super PAC, Never Back Down, has previously stated that they’ve already amassed $40 million within its first two months of operating. The $40 million will then be merged with $86 million that is from DeSantis’ state PAC used for his gubernatorial election.

Even that isn’t the end for DeSantis and Never Back Down though, with a different report from The New York Times showing the super PAC working to gain a $200+ million budget, with half of that planned to be put towards “voter-outreach push so big it plans to knock on the door of every possible DeSantis voter at least four times in New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina – and five times in the kickoff Iowa caucuses.”

The massive numbers gave DeSantis a strong start to what will undoubtedly be a heated battle with both fellow Republican nominees as well as potentially the incumbent President Joe Biden. The numbers will need to continue to grow in hopes of competing at the national level, with both Donald Trump and Joe Biden expected to spend in the ballpark of $1 billion in the 2024 election, per CNBC.