New U.S. Senate hopeful U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., quickly moved to build his campaign finance team after entering the race to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, DeSantis named his finance team and announced he was using the same outfit Rubio did for his online fundraising efforts.
DeSantis named Gretchen Picotte and Rick Porter from Political Capital to lead his fundraising efforts in Florida while Erika Sather from Right Solutions Partners will tackle fundraising outside of the Sunshine State and Washington, D.C., firm Gula Graham will be in charge of working with PACs. Targeted Victory, which Rubio used in 2010 and former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., used during his presidential bid in 2012, will manage online fundraising.
I am excited that Gretchen, Rick, Erika, Gula Graham and Targeted Victory are all joining my campaign to reform Washington, DeSantis said on Thursday. I know it is critical that we raise the resources necessary to spread my message of changing Washington, securing America from threats abroad, and fighting for economic opportunity. In the Senate I will stand for Florida families who have seen wages decline and jobs disappear.
Picotte has more than 15 years of experience working with Republicans in Florida, leading former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulianis efforts in the Sunshine State during the 2008 presidential cycle. In 2012, Picotte aided former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasners U.S. Senate and congressional campaign as well as a PAC helping then-U.S. Rep. Connie Macks, R-Fla., Senate bid and Gov. Rick Perrys, R-Texas, presidential campaign.
Porter also helped Perrys presidential efforts and Hasners Senate and congressional bids in 2012. He also worked for Mel Martines successful Senate bid in 2004.
Sather has raised more than $300 million across the nation, including for U.S. Sen. Tom Cottons, R-Ark., successful Senate campaign in 2014. For eight years, Sather worked as vice president of development for the conservative Club for Growth which backed DeSantis on Wednesday.
Based out of Washington, Gula Graham has raised more than $100 million for House and Senate candidates, including Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Dennis Ross.
Abe Adams of Targeted Victory will be handling DeSantis online fundraising efforts. Adams was the deputy digital director of Romneys presidential bid.
DeSantis is the first major Republican candidate to enter the contest. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, state CFO Jeff Atwater, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., and former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford have all closed the door on running for the Senate. Other possible Republican candidates who could run include former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., Jolly, Miller, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., launched a Senate bid in March while U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., has opened the door to running.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
