Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

State Matching Funds Near $7.29 Million

The six candidates receiving campaign-matching funds from the state drew a combined total of $233,305 on Friday, the fourth week of distributions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis was the biggest recipient of money for the week ending Aug. 12, picking up $148,216 to raise his total matching funds to $4.5 million, according to figures posted on the state Division of Elections website.

In the program, public funds are provided to match contributions of $250 or less from individuals to candidates’ campaign accounts.

Matching funds are not available for contributions to political committees or outside of statewide races.

Just under $7.29 million has gone to candidates in the program this year.

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Congressman Charlie Crist received $34,567 in matching funds Friday, while Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried got $29,391.

Over the past four weeks, Crist received nearly $1.42 million and Fried collected $808,974.

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis drew $8,620 in matching funds Friday to raise his total to $175,886.

In the contest for attorney general, incumbent Republican Ashley Moody received $3,310 on Friday to bring her four-week total to $243,303.

Santa Rosa Beach lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder, the only one of three Democrats running for attorney to collect matching funds, received $9,201 on Friday.

Uhlfelder has received $138,648 through the program. None of the candidates for agriculture commissioner have received matching funds.