Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has amassed an impressive $20 million in donations within the first six weeks of announcing his bid for the presidency, according to his campaign. Despite a glitchy campaign launch on Twitter earlier this year, DeSantis’s fundraising success is indicative of a solid base of support. However, recent polling indicates that he currently trails behind former President Donald Trump in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination.
In contrast, Trump’s campaign announced on Wednesday that he raised an astonishing $35 million during the second quarter of this year, nearly double his first quarter contributions. The former president’s fundraising efforts have surged since he faced legal trouble in New York and Florida, with ongoing investigations potentially boosting his ability to attract even more financial support.
While competing with Trump, DeSantis has remained active in his fundraising and campaign activities, reaching out to early primary states and beyond. This has further intensified the rivalry between the two politicians. Recently, DeSantis stirred controversy when he released a video criticizing Trump’s previous stance on issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. Prominent LGBT conservatives declared that DeSantis had “ventured into homophobic territory” with his remarks.
DeSantis can count on additional support from the super PAC “Never Back Down,” which is raising funds independently to benefit his campaign. Although prohibited from directly collaborating with DeSantis, the group plays a critical role in organizing key groundwork activities that could contribute to victory in early primary states.
As of now, other Republican contenders for the presidency have not released their fundraising figures for the period between April 1 and June 30. However, all candidates must submit their filings to the Federal Election Commission by July 15.