Renzo Downey
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried‘s political committee has raised $21,000 so far in July, putting her committee at the bottom of the fundraising race for Governor.
Since the Democrat from South Florida publicly confirmed she was considering challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis nearly a year ago, her committee, Florida Consumers First, has raised close to $1.4 million, and it’s operating with $1.8 million on hand. More than a quarter of that, $437,000, has come since she officially launched her campaign last month.
Yet her pace has slowed considerably in the first three weeks of July. From 45 donations so far this month, her committee has received only $21,000, buoyed by two $10,000 donations — one from the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm and one from CBD entrepreneur Hussein Rakine.
However, the bulk of June’s donations to the committee came in the final week of that month. More than half the overall contributions made that month came on June 30.
“We’re on track to win the Primary and roll full steam ahead into the General to defeat Ron DeSantis,” said Fried campaign spokesman Max Flugrath.
Each month’s end is a deadline for candidates hoping to make a strong fundraising showing, particularly when it’s the end of their first month on the campaign trail.
While Fried holds the distinction as the last Democrat to win statewide and the only one holding statewide office now, she won that title by a close margin. She defeated Republican Matt Caldwell by just 6,753 votes out of more than 8 million cast in the 2018 Agriculture Commissioner race, a contest conceded only after mandatory machine and manual recounts confirmed her victory.
Before jumping into electoral politics, Fried was a medical marijuana lobbyist. Financial disclosures from her time in the industry caused her campaign some early heartburn after updating prior years’ earnings with an additional $517,000 of income.
Fried trails her Democratic Primary rival U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in fundraising. His committee, Friends of Charlie Crist, has raked in $61,000 this month alone and sits with $1.4 million on hand.
Fried’s first-month haul, across both her personal account and her committee, also fell considerably short of her Crist’s. The former Governor raked in roughly $1.5 million in his first month.
Nevertheless, both candidates are millions shy of competing with DeSantis’ war chest, which benefits from his national stardom among conservatives. Not only does he lead both Democrats in polls for the gubernatorial race, but he leads Republicans in the 2024 presidential Primary when former President Donald Trump is off the ballot.
His political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, has raked in $537,000 so far this month. What’s more, the fundraising behemoth boasts more than $45 million on hand.
16 comments
Ed
July 21, 2021 at 8:23 pm
Crash and burn Nikki. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. Once again, KARMA.
Tom
July 22, 2021 at 12:01 am
Nikki Fraud what a joke. Good job Renzo laying out what a joke she is financially and politically.
Frauds dishonesty has become even more telling in her lack of integrity.
David Nelson Freeman
July 22, 2021 at 12:36 am
Why not give a little bit of praise to a candidate that is not “bought” by special interest? Me…I may be a big surprise with zero special interest money and focus on the three most important things to Floridians; our education, safety and student perks. No empty promises from me. No BS!
Tom
July 22, 2021 at 5:12 am
Have no idea what Freeman is alluding to. Frauds compromised 3 times over. She’s made over $250,000 of dollars as elected official who can’t report her earnings correctly. Purchasing of a luxury $700,000 home. She’s totally bought buy cannabis. Nikki Fraud profits while people suffer financially in a pandemic. Figure it out Freeman. She’s Not on your side.
just sayin
July 22, 2021 at 9:30 am
David Nelson Freeman is running for Governor. I had to google it myself.
David Nelson Freeman
July 22, 2021 at 9:37 am
Actually, I am alluding that Fraud and Crust get paid by special interest groups and they are both shady characters. Nikki Fraud is a drug lobbyist and Charlie Crust flows to where the votes are easiest with past criminal buddies. I say fu*k them! Yes! I curse like 99.9% of the population!
Matthew Lusk
July 23, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Only 85% of the population curse.Still , it’s sophomoric coming out of a candidate
zhombre
July 22, 2021 at 7:59 am
Nikki can always count on getting some mention at Florida Politics while her campaign sinks.
Tom
July 22, 2021 at 8:57 am
Put a fork in the Nikki fraud! Loser
Tom Palmer
July 22, 2021 at 6:13 pm
I guess the only real unanswered question is when she is going to drop out and try to run for re-election instead.
Matthew Lusk
July 23, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Fried still hasn’t spoken out her view on adultery! Well Nikki???? I think by the general election, Crist will be shouting ” marijuana marijuana marijuana.” It will be the #1 issue that works for the left. #2 and #3 being victim politics. Desantis would be wise to promote freedom under the constitution and not oppose. Sometimes you have to give them what they want. I do not consume recreational drugs at all but can see that at this point it’s beyond containment.
Tom
July 23, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Fraud may be the worst candidate in the last 25 years. She is awful. Only the media will give her Attn. One of the worst candidate roll outS in history. I mean pathetically bad. I am not even referring to the financial dishonesty. That compounds it by 5. Electoral disaster.
DOJ
July 23, 2021 at 7:02 pm
Still waiting on that 2020 Form 6 Nikki. Them numbers is hard.
Arthro
July 25, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Nikki, how are you going to beat Charlie Crist? Forget about DeSantis. Neither of you will beat him.
Tom
July 25, 2021 at 9:42 pm
Yes good one Arthro.
Has the Fraud withdrawn yet?
Waiting to hear.
Comments are closed.