Mitch Perry
The Republican Party of Florida raised over $1.9 million for the second quarter of this year, according to reports listed on the Florida Division of Elections website and posted on Friday night. Officially the party under new chairman Blaise Ingoglia brought in $1,919,327.
Ingoglia was elected party chair back in January, ousting incumbent Leslie Dougher, Rick Scott’s candidate to remain in the post. Scott no longer fundraises for the party, exclusively raising money for his political action committee Let’s Get to Work, which has only fueled speculation about his ambitions for another office once he’s term-limited out of office in 2018.
Among the biggest contributors to the party are U.S. Sugar, which contributed $185,000. Pubic utilities Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy both contributed $50,000. Walmart chipped in $20,000.
Prominent Jacksonville businessman Thomas Petway has individually given $160,000, and his real estate company, Petway Real Estate, gave $125,000. Petway is former RPOF chairman Lenny Curry, who stepped down from running the state party last year to run for mayor of Jacksonville. After winning that race earlier this year, Petway served as chairman of his transition team.
The Florida GOP spent $3.1 million in the second quarter, with over a million dollars of that going to boost Curry’s campaign.
The party also spent $425,000 to the House Republican Campaign Committee.
Meanwhile, the Florida Democratic Party raised $1.7 million ($1,761,242 to be precise) in the second quarter of this year under party chair Allison Tant, elected to lead the party in January of 2013. Over half of that came from one group – Taking Jacksonville to the Next Level, who gave $952,000. They are the political action committee with connections to former Jacksonville mayor Alvin Brown.
Energy companies Florida Power & Light contributed $40,665, TECO $20,000.
U.S. Sugar contributed $35,000.
The FDP spent $1.2 million ($1,273,357) in the quarter.
