Peter Schorsch
With media attention focused on who entered the GOP race for U.S. Senate next year, the man who did it first, Jacksonville U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, regained attention Tuesday. He said he raised more than $1 million in the second quarter of 2015, and now has more than $2 million in cash on hand.
“I’m grateful for the support I have received in Florida and throughout the country,” DeSantis said in a prepared statement. “The campaign raised a significant amount, and also laid the foundation to raise significant resources in the near future. I’m confident that we will have the resources we need to draw a clear contrast between my vision of limited government, economic prosperity and a strong defense with whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee and as the defender of continuing failed big government policies.”
Among the bold-faced names contributing to his campaign are former Florida Gov. Bob Martinez, prominent St. Petersburg developer Brent Sembler and businessman Stanley Tate, best known for developing the Florida Prepaid College Program.
The 36-year-old DeSantis, a former Navy officer and Harvard graduate, was first elected to Florida’s 6th Congressional District in 2012 and re-elected last year. He’s been endorsed by conservative groups such as the Club for Growth PAC, Senate Conservatives Fund and FreedomWorks PAC.
As mentioned above, the DeSantis campaign also shared an initial list of Florida financial supporters. Scrolling through them, there is a significant overlap with many of the major donors to Rick Scott‘s 2014 gubernatorial campaign.
Ed Burr, Ponte Vedra Beach
Andy & Toni Crawford, Ponte Vedra Beach
Simon Falic, Bal Harbour
Jerome Falic, Bal Harbour
Nily Falic, Bal Harbour
Leon Falic, Bal Harbour
Bill Isaac, Sarasota
Lesa France Kennedy, Daytona Beach
Gale Lemerand, Daytona Beach
Dennis & Graci McGillicuddy, Sarasota
Nancy McGowan, Jacksonville
John Rangos, Boca Raton
Brent Sembler, St. Petersburg
Peter & Cathy Spano, Gulfstream
Bill & Lynda Steere, Bonita Springs
Stanley Tate, Miami
Duane Ottenstroer, St. Johns
Dale & Janet Westling, Ponte Vedra Beach
That list of Florida financial supporters are in addition to the following list initially announced by the campaign:
John W. Childs, Vero Beach
Jay Demetree, Jacksonville
Gay & Stanley Gaines, Palm Beach
Robert Grammig, Tampa
Joseph G. Fogg III, Naples
Jim France, Daytona Beach
Lee Hanley, Palm Beach
Mori Hosseini, Daytona Beach
Elizabeth & John Kagan, Fort Myers
Tom Kukk, Naples
The Honorable Bob Martinez, Tampa
Carlyn & Lothar Mayer, Boca Raton
Mac McGehee, Jacksonville
Ambassador John Rood, St. Johns
Ambassador Francis Rooney, Naples
Russ Thomas, Ponte Vedra Beach
