Ron DeSantis Amasses Huge Financial War Chest Ahead of Midterms, Governor Can Now Outspend Opponent Enormously

Ron DeSantis–the firebrand conservative governor of Florida and rising Republican star–has reportedly raised over $100,000,000 in total contributions for his reelection campaign.

This makes him the number one fundraiser in state politics in the 2022 election cycle.

Between January 1st, 2021, and December 31st, 2021, DeSantis raised $109,869,159. He has spent $13,706,657.

Among DeSantis’s top contributors are the Republican Governors Association (which donated $6,600,000), the Republican Party of Florida (which donated $518,899), and Bruce Rauner–the former Governor of Illinois and now a resident of Florida (who donated $350,000).

One noteworthy feat of DeSantis’s massive war chest is that he hasn’t put his own money into the race.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, Ron DeSantis holds a tremendous lead over his Democratic opponents. 

DeSantis’s Democratic opponents are former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, current Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, and Florida State Senator Annette Taddeo. 

Crist currently leads in polling and fundraising. Crist has reportedly raised only a meager $8.2 million through the end of March and has $5.3 million in cash on hand.

Fried has $3.8 million in cash on hand.

Taddeo has $733,382 in cash on hand.

DeSantis’s impeccable fundraising ability fuels hopes of a 2024 Presidential election. In polling without Donald Trump, DeSantis leads the field of potential Republican candidates. The most recent polling, conducted in November of 2021, shows DeSantis leading with 26%. DeSantis is followed by Former Vice President Mike Pence (15%), Donald Trump Jr. (13%), and Ted Cruz (10%).

When put into polling with Donald Trump, DeSantis falls into second place with 13%. Trump leads all potential Republican candidates with a staggering 53%. 

The Florida Governor election is rated as “likely Republican” by The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections.