Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Lizbeth Benacquisto raised more than $44,000 in just seven days, boosting her total fundraising haul to more than $394,000.
State records show the Fort Myers Republican raised $44,475 between July 23 and July 29. The one-week fundraising haul boosted her total fundraising to $394,316.
Top donors included the Florida Society of Pathologists, JLR Medical Group, Liberty Partners, Ocala Breeders Sales Co., Walt Disney Travel Co. and Waste Management Inc. of Florida, all of which gave $1,000.
Benacquisto spent just $230 during the one-week fundraising period. All told, her campaign has spent $328,372. She ended the one-week fundraising period with $65,943 in the bank.
First elected in 2010, Benacquisto served as the majority leader from 2012 until 2014. She’s a top ally of Senate President Designate Joe Negron and is expected to play a prominent role in the Florida Senate in the coming years.
Benacquisto faces Sanibel Island Republican Jason Maughan in the Senate District 27 primary. Records show Maughan raised $12,000 during the one-week fundraising period, bringing his total fundraising to $82,768. He spent $51,806 in the one-week period, most of it on mailers.
State records show Maughan loaned his campaign $200,000. He has spent $209,249 since getting in the race.
