Republicans solidify control in once-competitive state.

Republicans Dominate Fundraising in Florida, Maintain Voter Registration Advantage

Republicans in Florida are continuing their trend of dominance over Democrats in the Sunshine State with a significant fundraising advantage in the most recent quarter.

The Florida Republican Party raised $1,470,949.55 from April 1 through June 30, compared to the Florida Democratic Party’s $733,532.87 during that same period, according to filings to the Florida Division of Elections.

When combined with the data from Jan. 1 through March 30, the Florida GOP has fundraised $9,903,586.44 in 2023 compared to the Florida Democrats’ $1,414,403.26.

In addition to the fundraising advantage, the Florida Republican Party has also maintained a significant lead over Florida Democratic Party in voter registration since the GOP overtook the Democrats in October 2021. Florida Republicans hold a 496,150-person advantage in voter registration over Democrats, per the most recent state data.

Florida Leading the Way for the Republican Party

Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler said the fundraising data and voter registration advantage show that “Florida is leading the way for the Republican Party.”

“In 2018, there were 250,000 more Democrats than Republicans in Florida,” Ziegler told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Today, there are over 500,000 more Republicans than Democrats. That net increase of over 750,000 towards the Republican Party, coupled with our massive fundraising advantage over the Democrats in the last quarter clearly shows that Florida is leading the way for the Republican Party. Great execution by our electeds and strong hustle by our grassroots continues to drive us in the right direction (pun intended).”

Florida Republican Party Vice Chairman Evan Power called the Florida Democratic Party and its chairwoman, Nikki Fried, “irrelevant, not serious people” in response to their fundraising numbers.

“No hype when [Fried] and the [Florida Democratic Party] quietly filed their campaign report after 11:30 last night, less than a million dollars brought in,” Power tweeted. “They can throw around as many F-Bombs and hype videos as they want, but they are still irrelevant, not serious people.”

The filing was posted days after the Florida Democrats had their annual Leadership Blue gala, where the party said it raised more than $500,000, and Fried declared, “It’s a new day for Florida Democrats.” The gala was held after the second quarter fundraising period.

Democrats are claiming new life in the Sunshine State after Democrat Donna Deegan upset Republican Daniel Davis in the Jacksonville mayoral race in May, but the GOP has built up significant advantages in recent years, which have moved the state further from a true swing state.

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Last November, Florida Republicans swept statewide races, including a nearly 20-point margin of victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Democrat Charlie Crist. Republicans also hold supermajorities in both houses of the legislature.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the Florida Democratic Party for comment.