Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Frank Artiles dominated the money race in the first two weeks of September, outraising and outspending Dwight Bullard in Senate District 40 race.
State records show Artiles raised a combined $209,225 — $109,225 to his official campaign account and $100,000 to his political committee— between Sept. 3 and Sept. 16.
Records show Bullard raised $9,925 during the same time period, $3,750 of which was in kind contributions from the Florida Democratic Party.
Bullard received $1,000 from the Community Health Care political committee, three $1,000 contributions from United Teachers of Dade TIGER, and $100 from St. Lucie County TIGER PAC.
The in-kind contribution from the Florida Democratic Party was for polling, records show.
Bullard had just one expenditure during two-week fundraising period. Records show the campaign spent $344 on a charitable contribution to the Zoological Society of South Florida.
He ended the fundraising period with $54,584 cash on hand
Bullard defeated Democrats Andew Korge and Ana Rivas Logan in August to win the Democratic primary. It was a hotly contested and expensive race, with Korge raising $472,360 and spending $422,065 on his failed bid. Bullard won the primary with 49 percent of the vote; Korge came in second with 22 percent of the race.
The general election is also expected to be an expensive race, and Senate leadership is lining up to back Artiles.
Records show Artiles raised $109,225 for his official campaign between Sept. 3 and Sept. 16. That included $1,000 contributions from the Florida Leadership Committee, Friends of Jason Brodeur, Rebuild Florida, Growing Florida’s Future and Jobs for Florida.
His campaign spent $108,742 during the same time period, including $72,793 for a TV ad buy. He ended the reporting period with $135,285 in his campaign account.
His political committee, Veterans for Conservative Principles, raised another $100,000 during the same time span. That included $25,000 contributions from Jobs for Florida, Working for Florida’s Families and Innovate Florida, the political committee chaired by Senate Majority Leader Bill Galvano.
The political committee ended the two-week period with $78,285 cash on hand.
Galvano is expected to lend a hand to Artiles next month during a Miami fundraiser. The fundraiser, scheduled for Oct. 18 at Jungle Island, is being billed as a “pro Israel community reception.” The host committee includes Galvano, Senate President Designate Joe Negron, former Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, and former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner.
