Florida Republican gubernatorial candidates by and large continued to significantly outraise their potential Democratic opponents in the cash game during the month of September.
Though the GOP field for the 2018 governor's race only has two official candidates so far -- Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam and Clearwater state Sen. Jack Latvala -- every one of the possible contenders for the Republican nomination each raised at least six figures last month.
Leading the pack in September fundraising numbers was Putnam, who raised nearly $927,000. Putnam has long been the cash cow of the GOP gubernatorial field, raising a total of $16 million through his Florida Grown political committee over the last two years.
Despite spending over $4 million from his reserves, Putnam still routs his opponents on the money chase, with $12 million cash on hand.
Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala raised $156,000 during the month of September, his first full month of fundraising since he officially declared his candidacy in August.
Latvala’s Florida Leadership political committee spent most of that money (around $116,000), however. Still, Latvala has been a prolific fundraiser, bringing in nearly $9.5 million for his gubernatorial campaign.
Expenditures have weighed on Latvala, who has spent more than half of that money -- $5.4 million -- leaving him with $4 million cash on hand.
Two more names floating around to run for the GOP primary have also been steadily raising money in anticipation for bids for the state’s highest office.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran has quickly raised nearly $4.4 million since creating his political committee, Watchdog PAC, over the summer.
Last month, Corcoran raised $434,000 and spent $212,000, leaving him with a total of $3.9 million cash on hand.
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis has also been raising money steadily in recent months. Last month, the Jacksonville-area congressman brought in $173,000 and spent $37,000. DeSantis’ has raised over $1.6 million via his Fund for Florida’s Future political committee and has $1.595 million cash on hand.
Democrats, on the other hand, didn’t fare quite as well in September fundraising numbers.
Leading the pack last month was former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, the only candidate to raise six figures during the month of September.
Graham brought in $138,000 but spent nearly all of that money last month, with $128,000 in expenditures.
Graham has raised a total of $2.4 million through her Our Florida political committee and has $1.7 million cash on hand.
Orlando businessman Chris King raised $70,000 last month but spent $64,000.
King, a political newcomer, has raised $948,000 for his gubernatorial bid. King pledged to contribute $1 million of his own money to his campaign and has $579,000 cash on hand.
In last place for Democratic fundraising is Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who has had an incredibly difficult time raising money and keeping it in the bank. Last month, scandal-plagued Gillum raised $6,000 but spent over nine times that amount -- $57,000 -- during the same time.
Gillum, the first Democrat to declare he’d run for governor, has raised a total of $717,000. He has spent a significant chunk of that money on legal fees over a court case revolving around his use of a city email address for political purposes.
Gillum has $95,000 cash on hand.
Though officially undeclared, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has led the Democratic pack in the fundraising game. He’s pumped more than $2.5 million of his own money into a $4.7 million pot for his political committee, All About Florida.
Levine hasn’t been quick to spend any of the money he’s raised either, only spending about $162,000, leaving him with $4.6 million cash on hand.
Levine is widely expected to officially jump into the governor's race next week.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
