Adam Putnam for governor? Florida’s current agriculture commissioner has held a few different positions in politics -- he’s even served in Congress -- but if recent fundraising reports are any indicator, Putnam is gearing up for his very own play for the state’s top political position in 2018.
A political committee called Florida Grown (which is linked to Putnam) has already begun to raise significant cash for what’s expected to be the beginning of a gubernatorial campaign. Putnam can’t seek another re-election for agriculture commissioner, so rumors have been swirling he’ll set his sights on the governor’s race to keep himself in the political game.
Over the last six months, Florida Grown has raised $1.4 million. A significant chunk of that fundraising money was raised in the last few months alone. During the month of June, Florida Grown raised over $460,000. In May, Florida Grown raised $287,000.
Finance reports show Putnam transferred nearly $400,000 from the Sunshine State Leadership Project into Florida Grown.
Other significant donors to the Florida Grown political committee included Little River Plantation Holdings, FCCI Services (an insurance group) and J.J. Taylor Distributing Co., all of whom donated $100,000 each.
But a larger number of donors -- nearly two-thirds -- chipped in $200 or less to Florida Grown, which is generally seen as a positive for candidates.
Insiders have speculated Putnam would be a strong contender for governor in 2018. As time goes on, Putnam has slowly paved the path toward a 2018 campaign, and the recent financial reports (which are basically straight fundraising numbers) seem to paint a much clearer picture that Putnam will run.
Also rumored to try his hand at a governor’s campaign is Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who recently turned down the opportunity to run for U.S. Senate after his four-year term as CFO ends. That would put Putnam and Atwater as chief competitors for the Republican nomination for governor.
Atwater would have been widely favored to be a front-runner among potential Republican U.S. Senate nominees, but despite the prospects of a winning bid which would send him to Washington, D.C., Atwater said he would remain committed to his job as CFO.
Florida Grown currently has $1.5 million cash on hand. Putnam’s already played with the big boys in Congress and has served as Florida’s agricultural commissioner for the last five years, but if the numbers keep growing, they’re a strong indicator Putnam will be a force to be reckoned with come 2018.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen
