Drew Wilson
Future Senate Presidents Bill Galvano and Wilton Simpson had big fundraising hauls last month, according to finance reports filed by their committees.
Galvano, who is set to take over for Senate President Joe Negron after the 2018 elections, brought in $213,000 for his “Innovate Florida” committee last month and so far has brought in $50,000 in September.
The largest August contributions came from the Florida Retail Federation and Disney Worldwide Services, which gave $40,000 a piece, while Southeast QSR, The Florida Chamber of Commerce and Dex Imaging each gave $25,000.
The lone September contribution came from Floridians for a Stronger Democracy, a political committee chaired by Associated Industries of Florida VP of Political Operations Ryan Tyson.
Expenditures for August came in at $319,000, with another $50,000 spent so far in September.
Topping the list was a $50,000 contribution to Tampa-based political committee Taxpayers in Action, and $25,000 contributions to Liberty Florida and the First Amendment Fund. Liberty Florida got another $25,000 from Galvano’s committee on the first of the month.
Galvano finished July with about $482,000 on hand in his political committee, and the new numbers show him with about $380,000 on hand as of Sept. 5.
Simpson’s committee, “Jobs for Florida,” took in $282,500 in August and spent $211,000, leaving it with about $1.6 million on hand on Sept. 1.
The 2021-22 Senate President designate’s biggest donors were the Florida Jobs PAC and the Florida Prosperity Fund, each of which chipped in $50,000. Florida Jobs is associated with the Florida Chamber, while the Florida Prosperity Fund is a political committee tied to AIF.
The Florida Manufactured Housing Association, Racetrac and the Florida Insurance Council also gave $25,000 apiece.
By far the biggest expenditure for Simpson’s committee was a $160,000 contribution to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, the fundraising arm for Senate Republicans.
Capital Finance Consulting got the bulk of the rest, with about $40,000 heading to the Tallahassee-based firm for fundraising and governmental consulting.
