Which 2026 Florida candidates are raising the most money?

With every campaign finance report, the 2026 midterm field comes into clearer focus.

More than a year from the general election, candidates up and down the ballot are already raising millions of dollars.

The quarterly filings, which appeared on a state database late Friday, show who’s got momentum in key statewide races — and which powerful interests will likely have a seat at the table during the next administration.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is term limited, meaning he can’t run for reelection in 2026.

As would be expected in what is now a solid red state, Republicans dominated the fundraising. The Republican Party of Florida raised more than $6.2 million, while the Florida Democratic Party raised about $540,000. The frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for governor, David Jolly, garnered a fraction of the financial support of his Republican rivals. The same was true in races down the ballot.

Here’s a rundown of the key fundraising figures in major races. Candidates can raise unlimited sums from individuals and corporations in their political committees. Campaign committees have $3,000 contribution limits for individuals and corporations.

Governor

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement, came into the third quarter of 2026 as the frontrunner in the Republican primary.

His fundraising total from July to September did nothing to change that. Donalds raised more than $9.3 million between his campaign account and an associated political committee, far outpacing his rivals from both parties.

Donalds got $1 million from the Seminole Tribe of Florida. He also got at least $1 million combined from a pair of political committees controlled by Republican Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez of Miami. The latter contributions are notable given DeSantis’ ongoing feud with Perez, and the governor’s unwillingness to support Donalds in the governor’s race as Trump has.

Donalds’ other notable contributions included $250,000 from CDR Enterprises, which has entered into numerous contracts with the state; and $175,000 from Club For Growth Action Florida, which has long supported Donalds’ political prospects.

One of Donalds’ notable rivals in the govenror’s race, former House Speaker Paul Renner, raised about $3 million between his campaign and an associated political committee. About $1.2 million of that came from Conservatives for Principled Leadership, a committee chaired by Renner.

Renner also got $500,000 from the Petro Services chain of convenience stores, and another quarter-million each from CDR and from the real estate executive Jack Demetree Jr.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who’s been hinting at a governor run for weeks, did not flash much cash. Collins controls a pair of political committees that have about $900,000 combined, state records show.

On the Democratic side, Jolly raised less than $1 million between his campaign and an associated political committee. Jolly’s top contributor was the former Republican megadonor turned Democratic philanthropist Miguel Fernandez. Jolly got $100,000 from Fernandez.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has mused publicly about a run in recent weeks, but has not announced.

Attorney General

Fresh off a Trump endorsement, Attorney General James Uthmeier brought in more than $1.6 million, most of which came from his political committee. Like Donalds and Renner, he got a quarter-million from CDR Enterprises.

Democratic former state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez raised about $127,000 for his campaign committee. It wasn’t immediately clear what political committee fundraising Rodriguez reported.

Chief Financial Officer

No Democrats have filed to run for chief financial officer, which means the intrigue lies on the Republican side.

Blaise Ingoglia, the DeSantis-appointed incumbent, raised about $1.7 million, far outpacing his Republican rivals.

Ingoglia’s political committee also got a six-figure sum from CDR: $100,000.

Ingoglia still may be challenged by a Trump-endorsed Republican, with state Rep. Kevin Steele of Pasco potentially eying a run. But for now, Ingoglia is in a commanding position for 2026.

Agriculture Commissioner

Republican incumbent Wilton Simpson has yet to file for reelection in the agriculture commissioner race. But he’s sitting on a mountain of cash.

Four political committees chaired by Simpson are sitting on more than $30 million. It’s not clear what the agriculture commissioner plans to do with that money, but history says he won’t need all of it to win reelection to his relatively low-profile post.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/11/which-2026-florida-candidates-are-raising-the-most-money/