DeSantis raised millions MORE than Trump from direct contributions in Q2 — amid new report, Florida government fired several campaign workers to cut costs
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leads the field of 2024 candidates in direct campaign contributions — he raised $20.1 million despite May announcement
- President Joe Biden is second and ex-President Donald Trump is third
- Money was raised when DeSantis laid off a dozen staffers to cut costs
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis leads all 2024 candidates — both Democrat and Republican — in direct campaign contributions for April, May and June.
Meanwhile, the Republican nominee is still struggling to outrun Donald Trump in the primary and, according to a new NBC News reporthis campaign just fired about a dozen mid-level employees to “cut costs.”
Campaign sources say they believe they hired too many staffers in the early stages of the election cycle and despite some massive fundraising efforts, it’s time to cut spending.
DeSantis showed some early signs that he could run against Trump for the nomination — including his massive fundraising drive during his first six weeks as an official candidate. But since then he has struggled to gain ground in polls against leader Trump.
The governor of Florida often opposes the mainstream media and denounces the narrative of left-wing media. Despite this, Desantis sits down next Tuesday for a rare interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leads the field of 2024 candidates in direct campaign contributions — he raised $20.1 million in the second quarter, pushing Joe Biden to second and Donald Trump to third
‘There are people in the media who are still looking for the truth; we will engage with them,” said DeSantis spokesman Bryan Griffin told the New York Post. “And we look forward to taking our message to the American people.”
In the second quarter of 2023, DeSantis brought in $20.1 million in direct contributions, according to receipts posted by key campaign committees for the nominee.
Democratic President Joe Biden is second with 19.8 million.
Looking at direct contributions alone, Trump ranks third behind DeSantis and Biden with $17.7 million.
The only other candidate to raise more than $10 million in Q2 is billionaire North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum with $11.7 million.
There are 15 candidates in the 2024 Republican primary so far. Only Trump and DeSantis earn double-digit support in national polls.
Biden also faces some long-standing challenges, including from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who amassed $6.3 million in the second quarter. Marianne Williamson, who announced her candidacy in March, failed to raise even $1 million in that same time.
Fourth place fundraising for the Republican field goes to self-made biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy for bringing in $7.7 million in direct contributions for the second quarter. Senator Tim Scott is in fifth place with $5.8 million and Nikki Haley follows with $5.3 million.
Desantis’ campaign shake-up comes after the departures of Florida governor David Abrams and Tucker Obenshain, veterans of the political job.
Some say the dozens who left after that are the fault of campaign manager Generra Peck for recruiting too many people too early in the campaign. Peck also led DeSantis’ reelection bid for governor in 2022.
A GOP source told NBC News, “They never should have attracted so many people, the burn rate was way too high. People warned the campaign manager, but she wouldn’t hear of it.’
One donor said of Peck, “She should be [in the hot seat].’
They added that a 20 percent turnout in polls is not enough to keep people motivated to support DeSantis.