Florida Governor Race 2026 · Public Records · All 6 Major CandidatesFlorida 2026 · Campaign Finance
Florida's next governor:
Florida's next governor:
where is the money coming from?
Public campaign finance records for every major candidate. Every number sourced to the Florida Division of Elections or federal FEC filings.
Before You Read
How Florida campaign money works
Three types of money. Tap each card to learn the difference.
Type 1
Candidate
Account
Account
$3,000
max per donor
Tap to learn more
Candidate Account
The official campaign account. Strictly limited to $3,000 per donor. Every donor is publicly named. This is the "small money" account.
Type 2
PAC
Account
Account
No limit
one donor can give millions
Tap to learn more
PAC Account
Political Action Committee. No donation limit at all. A billionaire can write a $5M check. Every donor still publicly named—but the amounts are enormous compared to regular donations.
Type 3
Dark
Money
Money
Hidden
donors never disclosed
Tap to learn more
Dark Money (501c4)
A "social welfare" nonprofit can run political ads without ever disclosing who funded it. This is legal. "Florida Fighters" spent $2.25M+ this way for Collins. We know the money was spent—but not who paid.
Reference
What do the labels mean?
Tap any label for a plain-English explanation.
This company runs private, for-profit prisons or immigration detention centers. They earn money when more people are locked up. GEO Group (Boca Raton, FL) donated to both Donalds and Collins.
Electric utilities and power companies are regulated by the state. The governor controls the appointments and policies that directly affect their bottom line. NextEra (Florida Power & Light's parent) donated to both Donalds and Collins.
The governor and legislature control gambling licenses and rules. Notably, both the Seminole Tribe (Hard Rock casinos) AND FanDuel/DraftKings donated to Donalds—they're in direct competition with each other in Florida.
Both Reynolds American (R.J. Reynolds) and RAI Services (British American Tobacco) donated in this race. Tobacco companies are regulated by the state and have a long history of large political donations.
Donalds received $800K total from 4 crypto companies: Winklevoss Capital ($500K), Ripple Labs ($125K), Robinhood ($100K), Kraken ($75K). He is the only candidate in this race with significant crypto industry backing.
Renner gets the majority of his money from political organizations—including $1.075M from the Republican Party of Florida itself. This is the classic "establishment insider" funding pattern.
Came from a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, which has no legal obligation to disclose donors. "Florida Fighters" spent $2.25M+ on Collins' behalf. We know the money was spent. We do not know who funded the group.
A common strategy: donate to multiple candidates so you have access no matter who wins. GEO Group, NextEra Energy, CDR Enterprises, and RAI Services all donated to multiple candidates in this race.
What it is: "Dark money" refers to political spending by nonprofit organizations that are not required by law to disclose their donors. These groups—typically organized as 501(c)(4) "social welfare" nonprofits—can spend unlimited amounts on political advertising without ever revealing who funded them.
Where it came from: The legal foundation was the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which opened the door to unlimited independent political spending by corporations and nonprofits. Combined with IRS rules that do not require 501(c)(4)s to publicly disclose donors, this created a legal pathway for completely anonymous political money.
Why it matters here: "Florida Fighters," a Delaware-incorporated 501(c)(4), spent an estimated $2.25M+ on TV ads benefiting Jay Collins before he even officially entered the race. A UCF political science professor described it as "essentially a shell corporation." Collins said he was "grateful" for the ads but claimed he didn't know who funded them. Under current law, the public may never know. ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025 →
Where it came from: The legal foundation was the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. FEC ruling, which opened the door to unlimited independent political spending by corporations and nonprofits. Combined with IRS rules that do not require 501(c)(4)s to publicly disclose donors, this created a legal pathway for completely anonymous political money.
Why it matters here: "Florida Fighters," a Delaware-incorporated 501(c)(4), spent an estimated $2.25M+ on TV ads benefiting Jay Collins before he even officially entered the race. A UCF political science professor described it as "essentially a shell corporation." Collins said he was "grateful" for the ads but claimed he didn't know who funded them. Under current law, the public may never know. ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025 →
Donalds transferred $1.2M from his congressional FEC account into his state PAC within 2 days of announcing for governor. The FEC sent an inquiry letter. He has not returned the money. See his section for full details.
The Big Picture
Total money raised—all 6 candidates
Tap any card to see top donors. Amounts are approximate based on most recent public filings.
Republican Candidates
Byron Donalds
$67M+
campaign + PAC
record $22.2M in Q1 2026
record $22.2M in Q1 2026
Tap for top donors
Top Donors
Jeff Yass$5M
Seminole Tribe$2M
Richard Uihlein$2M
Club for Growth$1.15M
Peterffy / FanDuel$1M ea.
Paul Renner
$5.4M
PAC only
majority from political orgs
majority from political orgs
Tap for top donors
Top Donors
Cons. for Principled Leadership$1.19M
Republican Party of FL$1.075M
Americans for Liberty$575K
Petro Services$500K
Jack Demetree Jr.$500K
Jay Collins
$900K+
disclosed PAC
+ $2.25M+ dark money
+ $2.25M+ dark money
Tap for top donors
Top Disclosed Donors
GEO Group$252K
CDR Enterprises$250K
Children of Israel LLC$100K
Bellini Family Office$100K
Florida Fighters (dark $)$2.25M+
James Fishback
$8K
candidate account only
no PAC
no PAC
Tap for details
Only Itemized Donor
America First Strategy Group$3K
8 individual donors$5K
Democratic Candidates
David Jolly
$3M+
campaign + Florida 2026 PAC
through Q4 2025
through Q4 2025
Tap for context
Fundraising by Quarter
Q2 2025 (launch)~$550K
Q3 2025~$587K
Q4 2025 (best quarter)~$1.06M
Q1 2026Not yet filed
Jerry Demings
$330K
campaign + Moving FL Forward PAC
only 7 weeks of fundraising in Q4
only 7 weeks of fundraising in Q4
Tap for context
Context
Demings entered November 6, 2025—only 7 weeks before Q4 deadline, during the holiday season. Campaign ($225K) + Moving Florida Forward PAC ($104K). Q1 2026 not yet filed.
Total raised—all 6 candidates
Proportional scale · Donalds = 100%
DonaldsRepublican
$67M+
RennerRepublican
$5.4M
JollyDemocrat
$3M+
CollinsRepublican
$3.15M*
DemingsDemocrat
$330K
FishbackRepublican
$8K
*Collins: $900K disclosed PAC + est. $2.25M+ dark money (Florida Fighters 501c4, donors not disclosed) · Data as of April 2026 · FL Division of Elections
Q1 2026 reports post mid-April. Democratic donor lists pending upload.
Candidate Profile
Byron Donalds
Republican
U.S. Congressman · Naples · Endorsed: Trump, Musk, Rick Scott, Sarah Huckabee Sanders
↓ Download Donalds card (PNG)
$67M+
Total Raised
$64M+
PAC Only
$22.2M
Q1 2026 Record
$3M+ Gambling
$6M+ Political Orgs
$500K Prisons
$800K Crypto
$1M+ Energy
$400K+ Tobacco
FEC Account Controversy
Within 2 days of announcing for governor, Donalds transferred $1.2M from his congressional FEC account directly into his state PAC. Congressional donors had their money funneled into an unlimited account. The FEC sent an inquiry letter; Donalds has not returned the money. Campaign finance experts say enforcement is unlikely given current FEC commissioner makeup. No charges filed. (WUSF, Florida Trident, WGCU—Sept. 2025)
Crypto Note
Donalds is the only candidate in this race with significant crypto industry money. Four companies—Winklevoss Capital ($500K), Ripple Labs ($125K), Robinhood ($100K), Kraken ($75K)—gave a combined $800,000. No other candidate received notable crypto funding.
Top PAC donors—Friends of Byron Donalds
| Donor | Amount | What They Do | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeff Yass | $5,000,000 | Billionaire trader, Susquehanna International Group; major Club for Growth backer | Political Org |
| Seminole Tribe of Florida | $2,000,000 | Operates Hard Rock Hotel & Casino locations across Florida | Gambling |
| Richard Uihlein | $2,000,000 | Billionaire packaging company owner; major conservative donor nationally | Political Org |
| Club for Growth | $1,150,000 | National free-market political advocacy group | Political Org |
| Thomas Peterffy | $1,000,000 | Founder of Interactive Brokers; one of Florida's wealthiest residents | Political Org |
| FanDuel / DraftKings | $1,000,000 | Largest sports betting apps; direct competition with Seminole Tribe for FL gambling revenue | Gambling |
| NextEra Energy | $500,000 | Florida's largest electric utility; parent of Florida Power & Light | Energy Gave to Both |
| GEO Group | $500,000 | Largest private prison/detention company in the U.S.; HQ Boca Raton, FL | Prisons Gave to Both |
| Winklevoss Capital | $500,000 | Founders of Gemini cryptocurrency exchange | Crypto |
| Duke Energy Florida | $500,000 | Major Florida electric utility, Tampa Bay and central FL | Energy |
| Reynolds American | $300,000 | R.J. Reynolds—one of the largest tobacco companies in the U.S. | Tobacco |
| RAI Services (BAT) | $100,000 | British American Tobacco U.S. subsidiary; Lucky Strike, Camel, Newport | Tobacco Gave to Both |
| Ripple Labs | $125,000 | XRP cryptocurrency company | Crypto |
| Robinhood Markets | $100,000 | Stock and crypto trading app | Crypto |
| Kraken | $75,000 | Major cryptocurrency exchange | Crypto |
| AT&T | $25,000 | National telecom and wireless carrier | Telecom |
| FEC Transfer (congressional) | $1,200,000 | Transferred from federal "Byron Donalds for Congress" account into state PAC within 2 days of announcing for governor. Subject to FEC inquiry. | FEC / Federal |
Candidate Profile
Jay Collins
Republican
Lt. Governor of Florida · Tampa · Green Beret veteran · Appointed by DeSantis, Aug. 2025
↓ Download Collins card (PNG)
$900K+
Disclosed PAC
$2.25M+
Dark Money (est.)
$0
Candidate Account
$252K Prisons
$250K Defense/Security
$60K Energy
$20K Pharma
$2.25M+ Hidden
⚠ Fact Check: "Collins Funded by Israel"—This Claim Is False
A Florida-registered LLC named "Children of Israel, LLC" (Miami Beach) donated $100,000 to Collins' PAC. It is a private American company—not the government of Israel. Foreign donations are illegal under 52 U.S.C. § 30121. No evidence of foreign government funding exists anywhere in Collins' public records.
For context: In 2016, a different "Children of Israel, LLC" (California) was traced by The Intercept to GOP donor Saul Fox, who used it to avoid disclosing his name. The Florida 2026 entity appears to be separate—no confirmed connection. Check the registered owner at Sunbiz.org.
Florida Fighters—$2.25M+ Dark Money
A 501(c)(4) called "Florida Fighters" spent $2.25M+ on TV ads for Collins before he entered the race. Formed in Delaware, November 2025. No Florida registration. Donors legally not required to be disclosed. Collins said he was "grateful" but didn't know who funded it. A UCF professor called it "essentially a shell corporation." (ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025)
Top donors—Quiet Professionals FL (PAC)
| Donor | Amount | What They Do | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEO Group | $252,500 | Largest private prison/detention company in the U.S.; HQ Boca Raton, FL | Prisons Gave to Both |
| CDR Enterprises | $250,000 | Florida holding company; government contracting and logistics | Defense / Security Gave to Both |
| Children of Israel, LLC | $100,000 | FL-registered LLC, Miami Beach. Not the government of Israel. See fact check above. To verify ownership: search Sunbiz.org. | |
| Bellini Family Office | $100,000 | Private family investment office | |
| Ross Perot Jr. | $50,000 | Texas real estate developer; son of the late presidential candidate | Real Estate |
| IGAS USA | $50,000 | Natural gas distribution company | Energy |
| Bayer AG (U.S.) | $20,000 | Global pharmaceutical and agricultural company | Pharma / Health |
| NextEra Energy PAC | $10,000 | Florida's largest electric utility; parent of Florida Power & Light | Energy Gave to Both |
| RAI Services (BAT) | $10,000 | British American Tobacco U.S. subsidiary | Tobacco Gave to Both |
| Comcast | $5,000 | Nation's largest cable and internet provider | Telecom |
| Publix Super Markets | $5,000 | Florida's employee-owned grocery chain; one of the state's largest private employers | Grocery / Retail |
| Florida Fighters (501c4) | $2,250,000+ | Dark money nonprofit; ran TV ads before Collins declared. Delaware-incorporated. Donors not disclosed. (ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025) | Hidden |
Candidate Profile
Paul Renner
Republican
Former Florida House Speaker · Palm Coast · Tallahassee insider
↓ Download Renner card (PNG)
$5.4M
Total Raised
$3.2M+
From Political Orgs
$0
Candidate Account
$3.23M+ Political Orgs
$500K Real Estate
$250K Defense/Security
In Brief
Renner's money comes overwhelmingly from other political organizations—including $1.075M from the Republican Party of Florida itself. He is the establishment insider candidate, backed by the Tallahassee political class.
Top donors—Friends of Paul Renner (PAC)
| Donor | Amount | What They Do | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cons. for Principled Leadership | $1,190,000 | Florida political committee; conservative establishment | Political Org |
| Republican Party of Florida | $1,075,000 | The Florida state GOP—the official party organization | Political Org |
| Americans for Liberty & Prosperity | $575,000 | Political committee; ideological advocacy group | Political Org |
| Petro Services (convenience stores) | $500,000 | Florida convenience store and fuel chain | |
| Jack Demetree Jr. | $500,000 | Jacksonville-area real estate developer | Real Estate |
| Florida First Forever | $390,000 | Florida political committee; Republican infrastructure | Political Org |
| CDR Enterprises | $250,000 | Florida holding company; government contracting interests | Defense / Security Gave to Both |
Candidate Profile
James Fishback
Republican
Investment CEO · Social media commentator · "America First" outsider
↓ Download Fishback card (PNG)
$8,000
Total Raised
9
Total Donors
None
No PAC
⚠ Fact Check: Fishback Is Critical of Israel Support—Not Pro-Israel
Social media claims are backwards. Fishback has publicly called AIPAC a "foreign lobbying group," criticized U.S. military aid to Israel, and made reducing foreign aid central to his platform. He is the candidate in this race most outspoken against U.S. support for Israel.
In Brief
$8,000 is not a serious primary budget—Donalds has raised 8,000x more. Fishback is running as an ideas candidate. With no PAC and no corporate money, there are no large industry interests shaping his campaign.
| Donor | Amount | Label |
|---|---|---|
| America First Strategy Group | $3,000 | Political Org |
| 8 individual donors | $5,000 |
Candidate Profile
David Jolly
Democrat
Former R-FL Congressman (Pinellas County, 2014–2017) · Switched to Democrat · MSNBC commentator
↓ Download Jolly card (PNG)
$1.98M+
Confirmed thru Q4 2025
698
Individual Donors
TBD
Q1 2026 Not Filed
Lawyers
Real Estate
Health / Medical
Political Orgs
In Brief
Jolly leads Democrats by a wide margin. He entered June 2025—5 months before Demings. His money is broad-based: 698 individual donors in the candidate account (all at the $3K max), plus major PAC money from a handful of wealthy Democrats. No corporate or industry PAC money. Q1 2026 not yet filed.
Top donors—Florida 2026 PAC
| Donor | Amount | What They Do |
|---|---|---|
| Deborah Simon | $250,000 | Carmel, IN—retail/philanthropist; Simon Property Group family |
| Barbara Stiefel | $175,000 | Coral Gables—major Dem donor; also gave $3K to candidate account |
| Miguel Fernandez | $125,000 | Coral Gables—listed as philanthropist; Cuban-American business leader |
| Donald Sussman | $100,000 | Fort Lauderdale—investment advisor |
| Bryan Baldwin | $100,000 | Brandon, FL—executive |
| Chuck Wall | $50,000 | Aspen, CO—retired attorney |
| Gladys Cofrin | $35,000 | Newberry, FL—retired |
| Marsha Droste | $25,000 | Clearwater—business owner; husband Edward Droste also gave $10K |
Notable donors—candidate account (698 total, all ≤$3K)
| Donor | Amount | Who They Are |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Kors | $3,000 | New York—fashion designer |
| Lance LePere | $3,000 | New York—fashion designer; Kors' partner (same address) |
| Gwen Graham | $3,000 | Tallahassee—former congresswoman; Bob Graham's daughter |
| Betty Castor | $3,000 | Tampa—former Florida Senate president & USF president |
| Alex Sink | $1,000 | Thonotosassa—former FL Chief Financial Officer |
| Donna Shalala | $2,000 | Coral Gables—former HHS Secretary, former congresswoman |
| Jamie Raskin for Congress | $1,000 | Takoma Park, MD—U.S. Rep. Raskin campaign gave to Jolly |
Candidate Profile
Jerry Demings
Democrat
Orange County Mayor · Former Orlando Police Chief & Sheriff · Husband of former Rep. Val Demings
↓ Download Demings card (PNG)
$300K
Confirmed thru Q4 2025
7 Weeks
Q4 Fundraising Window
TBD
Q1 2026 Not Filed
Real Estate
Health / Medical
Auto / Franchise
In Brief
Demings entered November 6, 2025—only seven weeks before Q4 closed, during the holiday season. His donor base is almost entirely Central Florida: Orlando-area business owners, physicians, and Black community leaders. Very different geography and demographic from Jolly's statewide, lawyer-heavy list. Q1 2026 not yet filed.
Top donors—Moving Florida Forward PAC
| Donor | Amount | What They Do |
|---|---|---|
| Garry Jones | $20,000 | Winter Park—professor |
| Buena Vista Commons LLC HRD Investments LLC RHC Development LLC | $30,000 | Three LLCs at same address (8610 Bow Ct, Orlando)—real estate |
| Jan Harrold | $10,000 | Winter Park—retired |
| Anthony Massey | $10,000 | Winter Park—business owner |
| Dorian Boyland | $10,000 | Orlando—self-employed; also gave $3K to candidate account |
| Everett Goings | $5,000 | Windermere—nonprofit executive; also gave $3K to candidate account |
Notable donors—candidate account
| Donor | Amount | Who They Are |
|---|---|---|
| Valdez Demings | $3,000 | Windermere—his wife; former U.S. Rep. Val Demings |
| Gilchrist Enterprises + James & Kathymae Gilchrist | $9,000 | Merritt Island / Orlando—restaurant franchise family; $3K each |
| Climate First Bank | $2,000 | St. Petersburg—ESG-focused community bank |
| Postell's Mortuary | $2,000 | Orlando—gave twice ($1K each) |
Side by Side
All 6 candidates at a glance
| Factor | Donalds R | Collins R | Renner R | Fishback R | Jolly D | Demings D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total raised | $67M+ | $3.15M+ | $5.4M | $8K | $3M+ | $330K |
| Has PAC? | Yes ($64M+) | Yes ($900K+) | Yes ($5.4M) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Dark money? | None found | $2.25M+ (FL Fighters) | None | None | None | None |
| FEC controversy? | Yes—$1.2M transfer, FEC inquiry | No | No | No | No | No |
| Foreign govt funding? | Illegal for all U.S. candidates—52 U.S.C. § 30121—none in any public filing | |||||
| Prison donors? | $500K | $252K | None | None | None | None |
| Energy donors? | $1M+ | $70K+ | None | None | None | None |
| Gambling donors? | $3M+ | None | None | None | None | None |
| Crypto donors? | $800K (4 companies) | None | None | None | None | None |
| Trump endorsed? | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Israel claims | No foreign funding in any record | Children of Israel LLC ($100K)—FL company, not foreign govt | No claims | Critical of U.S. aid—NOT pro-Israel | No claims | No claims |
Bottom Line
5 things every Floridian voter should know
1
The money gap is 10 to 1
Donalds has raised more than all 5 other candidates combined. More money = more ads, more staff, more reach heading into August. Florida Politics, Apr. 2026
2
PAC money has no limit
Most of the big money comes from PACs, not voters. One person gave Donalds $5 million. A few dozen donors account for the majority of all dollars raised. FL Division of Elections
3
$2.25M in dark money was spent for Collins
"Florida Fighters" ran TV ads for Collins before he declared. Donors are legally never disclosed—a chunk of the real money behind Collins will never be publicly known. ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025
4
Donalds moved $1.2M from his Congress account
He transferred congressional donor money into his state PAC within 2 days of announcing for governor. The FEC sent an inquiry. He hasn't returned it. WUSF, Sept. 2025
5
Two viral claims are wrong
"Collins funded by Israel" is false. "Fishback is pro-Israel" is backwards—he's the most critical of Israel support in this race. FL Division of Elections · The Intercept
How We Know What We Know
Sources & how to verify
Primary Source
FL Division of Elections
All state campaign finance records. Search candidate accounts and PAC contributions.
dos.elections.myflorida.comFederal Source
FEC—Donalds for Congress
Federal congressional account C00733329. Source of the $1.2M PAC transfer controversy.
fec.gov/data/committee/C00733329News
Florida Fighters Dark Money
ClickOrlando confirmed $2.25M+ spent on Collins ads (Dec. 2025). Axios and Florida Politics covered the group's formation.
ClickOrlando, Dec. 2025News
Donalds FEC Controversy
WUSF, WGCU, and Florida Trident reported on the dual-account controversy and FEC inquiry letter (Sept. 2025).
WUSF, Sept. 2025Investigative
Children of Israel LLC
The Intercept (2016) traced a CA-registered "Children of Israel, LLC" to GOP donor Saul Fox. The FL 2026 entity is separate—check Sunbiz.org.
The Intercept, Aug. 2016Business Registry
Sunbiz.org
Florida's official free business registry. Search any LLC to see its registered owner.
search.sunbiz.orgNews
Donalds Q1 2026 Record
Florida Politics confirmed $22.2M Q1 2026 haul on April 1, 2026.
Florida Politics, Apr. 2026Federal Law
52 U.S.C. § 30121
The law prohibiting foreign government donations to U.S. campaigns.
uscode.house.govWhen to Check Back
Q1 2026 reports for all candidates post mid-April 2026. Primaries: August 18, 2026. General election: November 3, 2026.