Ryan Nicol
State Rep. Shevrin Jones was well ahead of the pack in September fundraising as he attempts to win the Senate District 35 seat in 2020.
That’s according to the latest fundraising numbers filed with the Division of Elections.
Jones collected nearly $36,000 for his campaign Sept. 1-30. His political committee, Florida Strong Finish, raised another $14,000.
That adds up to just under $50,000 raised during the month for the Chair of the Broward Legislative Delegation.
To put his September haul into perspective, Jones brought in nearly eight times the rest of the six-person field combined.
Miami Gardens City Councilman Erhabor Ighodaro came in second to Jones in fundraising for the third straight month. He pulled in nearly $3,000 during September.
Following Ighodaro were former Rep. Cynthia Stafford and former state Sen. Daphne Campbell. Stafford raised just over $1,900, while Campbell brought in just under $1,600.
Former firefighter Wilbur Harbin has still not reported any money raised since joining the race in June. And serial candidate Josue Larose, the lone Republican running in a heavily Democratic district, reported no contributions for the seventh straight month.
Jones faced a fundraising lull following the 2019 Session. Campbell topped the money race in May, while Ighodaro led the field in June.
But that now appears to have been just a temporary lull, as Jones has maintained the monthly lead for three straight months. September marks his second-highest fundraising month of this cycle.
Jones was helped this month by a Sept. 25 fundraiser in Coconut Grove. That event featured former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, as well as state Sens. Lauren Book and Oscar Braynon, and state Rep. Nick Duran.
Among those contributing to Jones’ campaign in September were Target Corp., Visa, the law firm Greenberg Traurig and lobbying group PhRMA.
Prominent Coral Gables donor Barbara Stiefel also added $1,000, while former Coral Springs mayoral candidate Nancy Metayer pitched in another $250.
Gillum’s political committee, Forward Florida, added $2,500 to Jones’ PC.
SD 35 covers parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties including Miramar, West Park and Miami Gardens. The 2020 contest is an open one, as Sen. Oscar Braynon II is term-limited.
State political candidates and committees faced a Thursday deadline for filing reports showing finance activity through Sept. 31.
