Gwen Graham surges to front in Dems’ gubernatorial money race

Former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham has quickly surged to the front of the pack in campaign fundraising in her drive for the Florida governor’s office in 2018.

Graham, who officially entered the race on May 2, raised more than $429,000 in April for her independent political committee, Our Florida, her official campaign announced. That’s almost as much as her two primary opponents, Chris King and Andrew Gillum raised combined in April.

Graham, of Tallahassee, also has transferred $1.2 million from her former congressional campaign. With expenses, that brings the committee’s bankroll to $1.629 million, her official campaign reported Wednesday.

“I’m not just running for governor to win back our state — I’m running to renew the Florida we all love. Thank you to everyone who believes in this movement and has contributed to help us succeed.” Graham stated in a news release. “We will have the resources to communicate our message in every corner of this state and take on any Republican candidate.”

Her two primary opponents thus far also reported strong April fundraising efforts, but not as strong as Graham’s.

Winter Park affordable housing developer King reported raising $300,000 in April and finished the month with about $1.5 million in hand. His contributions thus far including money he has given his own campaign, $1 million to start, and, according to Politico, another $100,000 or so in April.

Tallahassee Mayor Gillum reported raising just over $200,000 in April, bringing his total fundraising to about $1.1 million. He reported having $743,000 of that in the bank at the end of April.

Graham’s April haul included several big checks. Airport construction magnate James Finch of Lynn Haven, health care software entrepreneur Michael Singer of Alachua, and attorney Wayne Hogan of Jacksonville each contributed $50,000. Fifteen other individuals, companies or committees, including EMILY’s List, contributed at least $10,000.

Still, the challenge ahead for any of Democrats is that of Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who filed for the governor’s race last week and officially kicked off his campaign Wednesday in his hometown of Bartow. His Florida Grown Political Committee ended March with $7.7 million in the bank.

None of the candidates’ April official campaign committee numbers, nor Putnam’s Florida Grown numbers, had been posted yet Wednesday by the Florida Division of Elections.