Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has demonstrated significant fundraising strength in the initial weeks of his 2024 presidential campaign, amassing $20 million. This impressive sum was accumulated in just six weeks, starting from his campaign launch in late May. The Never Back Down super PAC, which supports DeSantis's presidential bid, announced separately that it has raised a staggering $130 million since its inception in early March, bringing the combined total to $150 million.
This financial momentum positions DeSantis well in his challenge against former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. The $20 million raised by the DeSantis campaign is particularly noteworthy, as it represents the highest first-quarter filing for a non-incumbent Republican candidate in over a decade. It also surpasses the combined $18.3 million raised by Trump's campaign during his first two fundraising quarters.
The DeSantis campaign emphasized that nearly half of their total, $8.2 million, was raised within the first 24 hours of the campaign launch. DeSantis's campaign manager, Generra Peck, expressed gratitude for the substantial investments made by supporters, highlighting the campaign's readiness to compete and win. Peck underscored the enthusiasm among Republicans to support a candidate capable of reversing what they perceive as the damaging effects of President Biden's policies.
Chris Jankowski, CEO of Never Back Down, emphasized the broad support for DeSantis, with contributions coming from all 50 states. He views this as a testament to the significant movement backing the Florida governor and believes DeSantis represents the future of the Republican Party. A large portion of Never Back Down's funds, approximately $82 million, originated from a Florida political committee associated with DeSantis, initially raised for his 2022 gubernatorial re-election campaign.
While current polls show Trump leading the Republican field by a significant margin, DeSantis holds a strong second-place position. The latest Fox News national poll places Trump at 56% support among likely GOP primary voters, with DeSantis at 22%. Both DeSantis and Trump are the first contenders to publicize their second-quarter fundraising figures, with other candidates having until July 15 to submit their reports to the Federal Election Commission.
