Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a prolific fundraiser. Since announcing his candidacy in 2018, DeSantis has solicited funds for his eponymous state political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis can accept contributions in unlimited amounts — from individuals and corporations. DeSantis has taken advantage of Florida's permissive rules. Even after spending tens of millions on his election and reelection, he has amassed a war chest of nearly $86 million.
This article could easily have been captioned "Ron DeSantis is about to make a mockery of ____________________ (fill in the blank), because that's all he does.
Is there really no recourse? Is the FEC the only entity that governs this grift?
Personally, I am loving the fact that these wealthy folks will be loosing their money supporting an unelectable but I would like to see some legal consequences.
Judd, your focus is brilliant. DeSantis attracted many Republican donors because they thought they had a perfect formula to beat Trump. With the absurd lengths that the Governor chose to go to--Disney, CRT, book banning and felonizing teachers, and more--these power brokers are not so sure.
Please, continue to describe who contributes to DeSantis and what that specifically means they are standing for. People must learn about the repercussions DeSantis's power has and could have. This exposure can reach "we the people" in enough numbers to override FEC and other roadblocks. [Remember Sexton of Tennessee!]
This is ridiculous. Why do we even have any laws if republicans can flout them at every turn? The so called "party of law and order" breaks the law right out in the open and never faces any consequences at all. Hopefully your article will be picked up nationally and shine an even brighter spotlight on these corrupt goons...
Thanks for your fine work. Trump with a Harvard legacy and the clear intention to do whatever the *^%# it takes to leverage every bit of right wing lunacy and cash into power.
I agree the FEC is a paper tiger. Thank you for exposing just one more thing the GOP, Ron DeSantis and I'll add, major media are doing in plain view. Hell would have frozen over before I watched Trump on CNN last night. This morning we have Judd's important story here and at least 10 elsewhere with "5 Takeaways from Trump's CNN Town Hall"
That is what most of America will hear and read today. SMDH.
DeSantis can't buy that kind of attention even with finance capital of 86 million illegally used and loopholes up his wazoo.
The question is will all these funds serve to truly catapult him past TFG, who still holds sway and command of the GQP base? Is DeSantis attractive enough to a large enough part of his party? A war chest, even of ill-gotten gains, may not be enough. Fingers crossed!
This is the big flaw of a Democracy. To function properly depends on our leaders being decent human beings.
Our democracy doesn’t have effective laws in place that could shut down all these illegal and barely legal shenanigans, or prevent them from happening, and arrest or fire the law breakers who work to ignore our constitution or to interpret it wrongly. OR to install a new form of government in slow motion.
Democracy is too easy to undermine unless the voters strongly and visibly, consistently protest by marching ~~before we miss the window.
Plus if you zoom out to the time of our founders and extrapolate to the future we’re seeing now, while knowing well the dark side of human nature, Capitalism was bound to place its foot on the neck of democracy eventually. Strong laws might have prevented that. Rules are not enough.
Shocker.
This article could easily have been captioned "Ron DeSantis is about to make a mockery of ____________________ (fill in the blank), because that's all he does.
Well that’s pretty fucking infuriating.
One must wonder why this great nation is constantly beset by criminals in the guise of supposed leaders/legislators/representatives/etc!
DeSantis is among those of our current crop of thieves and worse, breaking the system in pursuit of personal power.
Oh but for a gaol in which to shove them all!
Judd continues to expose the real DEEP STATE. thank you Judd.
Is there really no recourse? Is the FEC the only entity that governs this grift?
Personally, I am loving the fact that these wealthy folks will be loosing their money supporting an unelectable but I would like to see some legal consequences.
Judd, your focus is brilliant. DeSantis attracted many Republican donors because they thought they had a perfect formula to beat Trump. With the absurd lengths that the Governor chose to go to--Disney, CRT, book banning and felonizing teachers, and more--these power brokers are not so sure.
Please, continue to describe who contributes to DeSantis and what that specifically means they are standing for. People must learn about the repercussions DeSantis's power has and could have. This exposure can reach "we the people" in enough numbers to override FEC and other roadblocks. [Remember Sexton of Tennessee!]
This is ridiculous. Why do we even have any laws if republicans can flout them at every turn? The so called "party of law and order" breaks the law right out in the open and never faces any consequences at all. Hopefully your article will be picked up nationally and shine an even brighter spotlight on these corrupt goons...
Judd, the careful granularity of your research makes a real world difference. Thank you for your work.
Thanks for your fine work. Trump with a Harvard legacy and the clear intention to do whatever the *^%# it takes to leverage every bit of right wing lunacy and cash into power.
Judd 2024.
Republicans can only survive for awhile on their willingness to cheat the system and the people.
I agree the FEC is a paper tiger. Thank you for exposing just one more thing the GOP, Ron DeSantis and I'll add, major media are doing in plain view. Hell would have frozen over before I watched Trump on CNN last night. This morning we have Judd's important story here and at least 10 elsewhere with "5 Takeaways from Trump's CNN Town Hall"
That is what most of America will hear and read today. SMDH.
DeSantis can't buy that kind of attention even with finance capital of 86 million illegally used and loopholes up his wazoo.
Share this story. Subscribe.
The question is will all these funds serve to truly catapult him past TFG, who still holds sway and command of the GQP base? Is DeSantis attractive enough to a large enough part of his party? A war chest, even of ill-gotten gains, may not be enough. Fingers crossed!
This is the big flaw of a Democracy. To function properly depends on our leaders being decent human beings.
Our democracy doesn’t have effective laws in place that could shut down all these illegal and barely legal shenanigans, or prevent them from happening, and arrest or fire the law breakers who work to ignore our constitution or to interpret it wrongly. OR to install a new form of government in slow motion.
Democracy is too easy to undermine unless the voters strongly and visibly, consistently protest by marching ~~before we miss the window.
Plus if you zoom out to the time of our founders and extrapolate to the future we’re seeing now, while knowing well the dark side of human nature, Capitalism was bound to place its foot on the neck of democracy eventually. Strong laws might have prevented that. Rules are not enough.
Start crooked. End up crooked.
Stunning exposé, Judd.