Florida Dem Gov Candidates Are “Falling Way Behind” In Fundraising

Florida Democrat gubernatorial candidates’ fundraising problems continue to attract worrisome headlines as they fall further behind. The Sun Sentinel reports that Chris King, Andrew Gillum, and Gwen Graham “are already falling way behind their Republican counterparts in the critical chase for campaign contributions,” with one Republican candidate raising more than double the three Democrats combined.

These anemic fundraising numbers are particularly troubling for Florida Democrats given the Sunshine State’s expensive media markets that will likely make the race one of the most costly elections of the 2018 cycle. With Democrats plagued by an increasingly apparent enthusiasm gap as their lackluster field of candidates struggles to raise money, they find themselves off to an abysmal start in a key state almost one year until Election Day.

The Sun Sentinel reports:

“It’s early in the governor’s race, but Democratic candidates are already falling way behind their Republican counterparts in the critical chase for campaign contributions.

The three major Democratic candidates so far for the 2018 election — Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham and Winter Park businessman Chris King — have struggled to raise the kind of bucks it’ll take to win a crowded primary in Florida, with its expensive major media markets…

After a fast start, Gillum’s fundraising has slowed to a crawl, pulling in just $78,000 last month. He has $558,000 cash on hand. He’s been beset by an FBI investigation into Tallahassee businesses and political officials — although there’s no indication he’s a target — but has hired a new campaign finance director to help turn things around…

Graham raised $304,000 in September, the most of any declared Democratic candidate. A Graham spokesman declined to comment.

King has $1.6 million cash on hand and raised $147,000 in September. His campaign did not return a call seeking comment.”