Gwen Graham hits $2.25M mark after first month on campaign trail

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham speaks to reporters after announcing she is running for Florida governor in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Graham served one term in Congress, choosing not to seek re-election in 2016 after new congressional maps made her district firmly Republican. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Gwen Graham has topped the $2 million mark after just one month on the campaign trail.

Graham’s campaign announced Tuesday that she has already raised more than $2.25 million, surpassing the $2 million raised by Democratic rival Chris King.

According to Graham’s campaign, the former U.S. representative raised $1.5 million in May — $430,000 to her official campaign account and more than $1 million toward Our Florida Political Committee, the political committee backing her 2018 run.

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of support we’ve received from Floridians across our state. Florida families understand that after almost twenty years of Republican rule in Tallahassee, we’re running out of time. Too many families are struggling to get by, too many children are at risk of losing their future, and too much of our land and water is threatened,” said Graham in a statement. “As governor, I will renew our promise to public education, build an economy that works for every Floridian, and fight to protect our environment.”

The campaign said it has raised a combined total of more than $2.25 million thus far.

The King campaign said Monday it had passed the $2 million mark in total contributions in May, and raised $212,000 during the one-month period, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is also running for the Democratic nomination. May fundraising numbers weren’t immediately available; however, Forward Florida, the political committee supporting Gillum’s 2018 run, did not report raising any money during May, according to campaign finance data posted to its website.

“While Mayor Gillum took time off the trail this month for the birth of his third child, we’re confident that we’ll have the resources to compete all across Florida,” said Geoff Burgan, the communications director for Gillum’s campaign. “We’ve raised more than $1 million from more than 7,000 contributors — by far the most in the Governor’s Race.”

Campaign finance reports covering the month of May are due to the Division of Elections by June 12.