Highlights:
DeSantis mega donor Ken Griffin worked to lobby lawmakers to alter DeSantis’ anti-Chinese real estate law in order to curb complications with his company’s $1 billion headquarters.
Memo From DeSantis’ Political Committee Laid Out Plan For Donors To Pay Thousands To DeSantis’ Political Committees For “Intimate” Events With The Governor, Including A Round Of Golf And Meals. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “It was DeSantis' first public comment since the Tampa Bay Times published internal documents from his political committee outlining how Florida's rich and powerful could pay for access to the governor. The documents listed prices for certain activities with DeSantis, including $25,000 to golf with him and $250,000 for a one hour ‘intimate and high dollar’ gathering.” [Tampa Bay Times, 9/25/19]
Private Events With DeSantis Would Range From $25,000 To $250,000. According to the Miami Herald, “Other documents reviewed by the Times established prices donors could pay to interact with DeSantis or his wife, Casey. Golf in a foursome? $25,000. Golf one-on-one with DeSantis? $100,000. A 10- to 15-minute meeting? $25,000. A dinner event? $150,000. One hour of an ‘intimate and high dollar’ gathering? $250,000.” [Miami Herald, 9/12/19]
DeSantis And His Wife Approved The Fundraising Plan. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “In the Jan. 20 memo to Strum, Wiles said that DeSantis and the first lady approved the ‘aggressive’ fundraising plan. Casey DeSantis, a key member of DeSantis' inner circle, intended to play ‘an integral role in many of these activities,’ Wiles added, including events for supporters at the governor's mansion and dedicated time for thank you calls. Meanwhile, DeSantis has kept his golf game sharp while meeting with lobbyists, business leaders and donors on the course, just as the fundraising plan suggested.” [Tampa Bay Times, 9/15/19]
According To Emails, DeSantis Golfed With Duke Energy Lobbyists After The Company Committed $100,000 In Contributions. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “According to emails obtained by the Times, DeSantis golfed with three lobbyists for Duke Energy in February after the Florida utility company committed $100,000 in contributions.” [Tampa Bay Times, 9/25/19]
Days After The Golf Outing, Duke Energy Donated $75,000 To The Republican Party Of Florida, Which Was Viewed As An Extension Of The DeSantis Political Committees. According to the Miami Herald, “The round of golf was scheduled at exclusive Indian Creek Country Club overlooking Biscayne Bay. Three Duke Energy lobbyists were to join Gov. Ron DeSantis in mid-February, a precious opportunity for the utility to get face time with Florida's new governor weeks after he took office. Internal documents obtained by the Tampa Bay Times reveal that Duke's lobbyists didn't just request the governor's time. They were supposed to pay for it, too. ‘Is this the one that is $25k per?’ asked the chair of DeSantis' political committee, Susan Wiles, in February emails referencing the upcoming round of golf. ‘A little more -- Duke is going to do $100k,’ responded the committee's finance consultant, Heather Barker. Days after the golf outing, Duke made a $75,000 donation to the Republican Party of Florida, which Wiles described in a memo as ‘interchangeable’ with DeSantis' political committee.” [Miami Herald, 9/12/19]
DeSantis Political Committee Staffers Were Explicit In Internal Communications About The Connection Between Political Donations And Private Golf Outing. According to the Miami Herald, “Three Duke Energy lobbyists were to join Gov. Ron DeSantis in mid-February, a precious opportunity for the utility to get face time with Florida's new governor weeks after he took office. Internal documents obtained by the Tampa Bay Times reveal that Duke's lobbyists didn't just request the governor's time. They were supposed to pay for it, too. ‘Is this the one that is $25k per?’ asked the chair of DeSantis' political committee, Susan Wiles, in February emails referencing the upcoming round of golf. ‘A little more -- Duke is going to do $100k,’ responded the committee's finance consultant, Heather Barker.” [Miami Herald, 9/12/19]
A Duty Free Store Contractor 3Sixty Duty Free Met With DeSantis Appointees To Talk About Lackluster Sales Since COVID. According to Seeking Rents , “In some cases, DeSantis donors need something from his appointees. For instance, records maintained by Orlando International Airport show that representatives for a duty-free store contractor met in March with Carson Good, a Winter Park real-estate investor and DeSantis fundraiser whom DeSantis put on the board of the agency that runs OIA shortly after taking office. Good said the company — Miami-based 3Sixty Duty Free, which operates two duty-free stores at OIA — wanted to give him an update on how its business is faring at the airport, where international traffic has yet to recover to pre-COVID levels.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
The Appointee Stated After The Meeting: “I Suppose If Sales Stay Slow, There May Be An Ask For Relief In The Future.” According to Seeking Rents , “During the worst of the pandemic travel slump, airport leaders waived or reduced fees several times for vendors, including 3Sixty Duty Free. But while domestic travel has since rebounded, international traffic continues to lag, which is prompting duty-free vendors like 3Sixty to seek more breaks. ‘As I recall, there was no specific ‘ask,’ but they were saying their sales were still off,’ Good said when asked about his March meeting with the company. ‘I suppose if sales stay slow, there may be an ask for relief in the future.’” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
3Sixty Met With Three Other DeSantis Appointees And Donated $25,000 To DeSantis’s Political Committee. According to Seeking Rents , “Airport records show 3Sixty followed up its meeting with Good with additional meetings with three more of DeSantis’ appointees on the seven-member Orlando airport board. In between those meetings, records show, the company wrote a $25,000 check to DeSantis’ political committee.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
DeSantis Awarded The Cox Science Center And Aquarium $10 Million From His State Budget. According to Seeking Rents, “Last June, just a few days after he signed last year’s state budget into law, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach to promote funding for Everglades restoration and other environmental programs. During his appearance, the Republican governor boasted about how he’d just set a new state record by vetoing more than $3 billion of earmarks from the state spending plan. But he also highlighted one line item that he’d approved: $10 million for the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
The Museum Hired Ballard Partners, A Top Lobbying Firm With Ties To DeSantis, To Lobby For A $10 Million Budget Request. According to Seeking Rents, “In late January of last year, shortly after Florida lawmakers gaveled open the 2022 legislative session, the science center hired Ballard Partners, the Tallahassee lobbying firm led by one of DeSantis’ biggest political fundraisers. One of the firm’s lobbyists immediately submitted a $10 million budget request to the Florida Senate.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
DeSantis’ PAC Accepted $10,000 From Howard Cox, The Museum’s Top Donor. According to Seeking Rents, “Founded more than 60 years ago as the South Florida Science Museum, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium changed its name in November 2021 following a $20 million gift from Howard and Wendy Cox. Howard Cox is partner in a Massachusetts-based venture capital firm that was an early investor in companies like Facebook and Airbnb, though the couple has a home in Palm Beach. […] Crampton gave $5,000 to the governor’s former political committee on May 1. Cox gave another $10,000 on May 5.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
February 7, 2022: Board Member Lew Crampton Gave DeSantis’ Re-Election Campaign $3,000. According to Seeking Rents, “But another science center leader decided to become a DeSantis donor, too. Records show Lew Crampton, the chairman of the Cox center’s board of trustees, gave $3,000 to the governor’s re-election campaign on Feb. 7.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
May 1, 2022: Crampton Later Gave DeSantis A $5,000 Donation. According to Seeking Rents, “Crampton gave $5,000 to the governor’s former political committee on May 1. Cox gave another $10,000 on May 5.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
DeSantis Agreed To Meet With Cox, Crampton, And Others At The Governor’s Office. According to Seeking Rents, “One week later, DeSantis agreed to meet personally with Cox, Crampton and others from the Cox center at the Governor’s Office in Tallahassee.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
The Meeting Was To Discuss Funding For The Science Center. According to Seeking Rents, “The purpose of the Feb. 14, 2022, meeting was to discuss funding for the science center, according to a briefing document prepared by the governor’s staff ahead of the meeting. The document was obtained as part of a public-records request Seeking Rents made more than a year ago for records related to DeSantis’ work during the 2022 legislative session. The Governor’s Office only recently began to fulfill that request, and it still has not yet produced all the records. Separate emails from the Governor’s Office confirm the meeting with the Cox center representatives took place, although it’s not clear what precisely was said. Representatives for the Cox center did not respond to requests for comment.” [Seeking Rents, 5/18/23]
DeSantis Accepted Private Air Travel From Roughly 55 Donors. According to the New York Times, “Ahead of an expected White House bid, Mr. DeSantis has relied heavily on his rich allies to ferry him around the country to test his message and raise his profile. Many of these donors are familiar boosters from Florida, some with business interests before the state, according to a New York Times review of Mr. DeSantis’s travel. Others have been shielded from the public by a new nonprofit, The Times found, in an arrangement that drew criticism from ethics experts. […] His political committee has accepted private air travel from roughly 55 wealthy, mostly Florida-based contributors and companies associated with them, including the heads of oil and gas companies, developers and homebuilders, and health care and insurance executives, a Times analysis of campaign finance records shows.” [New York Times, 5/20/23]
Travel Had Been Additionally Routed Through The Republican Party Of Florida. According to the New York Times, “Additional travel donations were routed to the Republican Party of Florida, which Mr. DeSantis often used as a third-party pass-through.” [New York Times, 5/20/23]
Lobbyists And Donors Told The New York Times They Became Accustomed To Calls From DeSantis’ Aides Asking For Private Plane Travel, Including DeSantis’ Recent Trade Mission To Japan. According to the New York Times, “A half dozen lobbyists and donors who spoke with The Times said they became accustomed to calls from the governor’s political aides asking for planes — in at least one case, for a last-minute trip home from out of state and, more recently, for a flight to Japan.” [New York Times, 5/20/23]
DeSantis Courted Lobbyists For Large Campaign Contributions. According to the Washington Post, “The Florida governor’s fundraisers hoped that nine lobbyists would raise at least $1 million each for DeSantis’s political action committee, the state and the Republican Governors Association, according to the document, which was drafted by Heather Barker, a top DeSantis aide and his primary fundraiser, and shared with others. To help them haul in large sums of money, the document suggested that lobbyists be allowed to offer their clients certain perks, such as meals and rounds of golf with DeSantis, who loves the sport. DeSantis’s fundraisers envisioned that some golf outings with the governor would net contributions of $75,000 or more, according to other emails among DeSantis’s political advisers.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
DeSantis’ PAC Hoped To Raise At Least $1 Million Through Efforts By DeSantis’ Top Fundraiser, Heather Barker. According to the Washington Post, “The Florida governor’s fundraisers hoped that nine lobbyists would raise at least $1 million each for DeSantis’s political action committee, the state and the Republican Governors Association, according to the document, which was drafted by Heather Barker, a top DeSantis aide and his primary fundraiser, and shared with others.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
2019: In One Email, Barker Said, “I Could Sell Golf For $50k This Morning,” Noting A Prominent Lobbyist And His Wife Wanted To Play Golf With DeSantis. According to the Washington Post, “‘I could sell golf for $50k this morning,’ Barker wrote to other DeSantis aides in a 2019 email obtained by The Post, noting that a prominent Tallahassee lobbyist and his wife wanted to play golf with the recently elected DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis at a course the governor favored. The lobbyist would ‘get money through a client’ to contribute in exchange for golfing with DeSantis, she wrote. It is unclear if the meeting happened. Barker did not respond to a request for comment.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Barker Said The Lobbyist Would Contribute To DeSantis’ PAC “Through A Client” In Exchange For Golfing With DeSantis. According to the Washington Post, “‘I could sell golf for $50k this morning,’ Barker wrote to other DeSantis aides in a 2019 email obtained by The Post, noting that a prominent Tallahassee lobbyist and his wife wanted to play golf with the recently elected DeSantis and first lady Casey DeSantis at a course the governor favored. The lobbyist would ‘get money through a client’ to contribute in exchange for golfing with DeSantis, she wrote. It is unclear if the meeting happened. Barker did not respond to a request for comment.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Other Fundraising Methods Included Golf, Lunch, Meetings, Dinners, Tours, And Events. According to the Washington Post, “The 2019 document detailed other avenues for securing contributions. ‘METHODS FOR FIRMS TO DELIVER SUPPORT: Golf, lunch, meetings, dinner, tours, events, etc. — Each have a threshold (ex. Golf $25k per person, which is a deal),’ reads the document, whose authenticity was confirmed by multiple people with knowledge of it. Like others interviewed for this story, the people spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Each Fundraising Method Came With Its Own Fundraising Threshold, Such As Golf Was Set At $25,000 Per Person. According to the Washington Post, “The 2019 document detailed other avenues for securing contributions. ‘METHODS FOR FIRMS TO DELIVER SUPPORT: Golf, lunch, meetings, dinner, tours, events, etc. — Each have a threshold (ex. Golf $25k per person, which is a deal),’ reads the document, whose authenticity was confirmed by multiple people with knowledge of it. Like others interviewed for this story, the people spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Sources Close To DeSantis’ Fundraising Noted DeSantis Had Direct Involvement With The Fundraising Operation. According to the Washington Post, “People familiar with the governor’s fundraising described the operation as one that included direct involvement by the governor. DeSantis made some calls to lobbyists, the documents show, and often took meetings that were orchestrated by the team, which was run by political aides to the governor.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Sources Noted DeSantis Was Personally Briefed About The Fundraising Operation. According to the Washington Post, “DeSantis was personally briefed about the broad fundraising effort and approved it, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the program. Documents reviewed by The Post show DeSantis was provided updates in writing about how much money lobbyists had raised from which clients.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
Documents Showed DeSantis Was Provided Updates In Writing About How Much Money Lobbyists Raised From Which Clients. According to the Washington Post, “DeSantis was personally briefed about the broad fundraising effort and approved it, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the program. Documents reviewed by The Post show DeSantis was provided updates in writing about how much money lobbyists had raised from which clients.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
A Prominent Health Care Company, WellCare, Agreed To Contribute $50,000 To DeSantis, But The Company’s CEO Wanted To Meet DeSantis Over Lunch. According to the Washington Post, “WellCare, a prominent health care company, agreed to give $50,000 in the early days of the governor’s administration, an email from Barker shows, but the CEO wanted to see the governor. A lunch was planned. “The CEO of Wellcare must hand deliver the check prior to session,” an email from Barker, the fundraiser, reads. The company did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear if the lunch happened.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
The Washington Post Noted It Was Unclear If The Lunch Ever Happened. According to the Washington Post, “WellCare, a prominent health care company, agreed to give $50,000 in the early days of the governor’s administration, an email from Barker shows, but the CEO wanted to see the governor. A lunch was planned. “The CEO of Wellcare must hand deliver the check prior to session,” an email from Barker, the fundraiser, reads. The company did not respond to a request for comment. It is unclear if the lunch happened.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
A Lobbyist For The Sugar Industry Requested Dinner With DeSantis In Exchange For A $50,000 Donation. According to the Washington Post, “A lobbyist for the sugar industry requested a dinner with DeSantis for a $50,000 donation, according to an email Barker sent to her colleagues. DeSantis had clashed with the sugar industry, but Barker noted that the lobbyist had raised money for DeSantis, including $200,000 she said came from the sugar industry. It is unclear if the dinner happened.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
The Washington Post Noted It Was Unclear If The Dinner Had Ever Happened. According to the Washington Post, “A lobbyist for the sugar industry requested a dinner with DeSantis for a $50,000 donation, according to an email Barker sent to her colleagues. DeSantis had clashed with the sugar industry, but Barker noted that the lobbyist had raised money for DeSantis, including $200,000 she said came from the sugar industry. It is unclear if the dinner happened.” [Washington Post, 8/20/23]
DeSantis’ Chief Of Staff, James Uthmeier, Helped Solicit Florida Lobbyists For Donations To DeSantis’ Presidential Campaign. According to NBC News, “Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff was among the biggest political fundraisers helping launch DeSantis' presidential campaign, an unusual instance of a highly influential taxpayer-funded aide’s doubling as a top political bundler. And part of the way he raised that money was by having other government officials help him solicit cash from lobbyists. The move, besides being out of the ordinary, raises ethical questions, and it shocked many of those Republican lobbyists here in Florida’s capital who felt pressured to donate because they have business before the administration. It also underscores the extent to which DeSantis has used the state government to further his ambitions. The governor’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier, helped raise at least $423,042 for his presidential campaign in the hours after the May 24 launch.” [NBC News, 6/8/23]
Uthmeier Helped Raise At Least $423,042 For DeSantis’ Presidential Campaign. According to NBC News, “The governor’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier, helped raise at least $423,042 for his presidential campaign in the hours after the May 24 launch.” [NBC News, 6/8/23]
Uthmeier Helped Orchestrate Fundraising Within The Administration By Asking Officials To Ask Lobbyists To Contribute Via A Specific Link That Would Be Associated With Uthmeier. According to NBC News, “Since DeSantis’ launch, Uthmeier has helped orchestrate a political fundraising program within the administration that involved asking administration officials across state government to ask lobbyists by text message to contribute money to DeSantis’ nascent presidential campaign through a specific link. When a donor gave through the link, the donation was associated with Uthmeier’s name, said people familiar with the messages, which helped make him one of his boss’ top early political bundlers.” [NBC News, 6/8/23]
DeSantis’ Presidential Campaign Accepted $290,000 From Lobbyists Seeking Favors From His Administration. According to Jason Garcia via Seeking Rents, “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis raised at least $290,000 for his presidential campaign from lobbyists seeking favors from his administration, according to a Seeking Rents review of his first fundraising report. The early DeSantis donors include the top lobbyist for Florida Power & Light, the state’s largest electric company. DeSantis helped FPL get a record-setting rate increase from state regulators. They also include the lobbyist for lawn-care giant TruGreen who was behind controversial legislation making it harder for local communities to limit the use of pollution-causing fertilizer. DeSantis recently signed that bill into law, despite pleas for a veto from clean-water activists. And they include a lobbyist for Slide Insurance, the Florida property insurer that recently sent a St. Augustine homeowner a bill for nearly $36,000. That came after DeSantis signed a law giving insurance companies more freedom to raise rates on Florida homeowners without fear of losing those customers to a state-run alternative.” [Substack - Seeking Rents, 7/17/23]
DeSantis’ Campaign Accepted $29,100 From Ballard Partners. According to Jason Garcia via Seeking Rents, “The Seeking Rents analysis show DeSantis raised at least $78,000 just from lobbyists at Florida’s three highest-grossing firms: Ballard Partners ($29,100), The Southern Group ($23,200), and Capital Cities Consulting ($26,1000). All three were busy during the 2023 legislative session, which ended just a few weeks before DeSantis kicked off his presidential campaign.” [Substack - Seeking Rents, 7/17/23]
DeSantis’ Campaign Accepted $23,200 From The Southern Group. According to Jason Garcia via Seeking Rents, “The Seeking Rents analysis show DeSantis raised at least $78,000 just from lobbyists at Florida’s three highest-grossing firms: Ballard Partners ($29,100), The Southern Group ($23,200), and Capital Cities Consulting ($26,1000). All three were busy during the 2023 legislative session, which ended just a few weeks before DeSantis kicked off his presidential campaign.” [Substack - Seeking Rents, 7/17/23]
DeSantis’ Campaign Accepted $26,100 From Capital Cities Consulting. According to Jason Garcia via Seeking Rents, “The Seeking Rents analysis show DeSantis raised at least $78,000 just from lobbyists at Florida’s three highest-grossing firms: Ballard Partners ($29,100), The Southern Group ($23,200), and Capital Cities Consulting ($26,1000). All three were busy during the 2023 legislative session, which ended just a few weeks before DeSantis kicked off his presidential campaign.” [Substack - Seeking Rents, 7/17/23]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $10,000 In Donations From AE Engineering. According to the Intercept, “AE Engineering […] Donations to DeSantis $10,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
AE Engineering Received $43.4 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “AE Engineering […] Contracts under DeSantis $43,400,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $3,000 In Donations From Ajax Building Company. According to the Intercept, “Ajax Building Company […] Donations to DeSantis […] $3,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Ajax Building Company Received $161.4 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Ajax Building Company […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $161,400,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $10,000 In Donations From AUM Construction. According to the Intercept, “AUM Construction, Inc. […] Donations to DeSantis […] $10,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
AUM Construction Received $30.5 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “AUM Construction, Inc. […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $30,500,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $3,000 In Donations From Certified Thermographic Service. According to the Intercept, “Certified Thermographic Service […] Donations to DeSantis […] $3,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Certified Thermographic Service Received $500,000 In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Certified Thermographic Service […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $500,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $1,000 In Donations From Chinchor Electric. According to the Intercept, “Chinchor Electric, Inc. […] Donations to DeSantis […] $1,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Chinchor Electric Received $64.4 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Chinchor Electric, Inc. […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $64,400,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $30,000 In Donations From DNA Comprehensive Therapy Services. According to the Intercept, “DNA Comprehensive Therapy Services […] Donations to DeSantis […] $30,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DNA Comprehensive Therapy Received $4.3 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “DNA Comprehensive Therapy Services […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $4,300,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $3,000 In Donations From Earthscpaes Unlimited. According to the Intercept, “Earthscapes Unlimited […] Donations to DeSantis […] $3,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Earthscapes Unlimited Received $6.3 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Earthscapes Unlimited […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $6,300,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $5,000 In Donations From Emerald Coast Striping. According to the Intercept, “Emerald Coast Striping […] Donations to DeSantis […] $5,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Emerald Coast Striping Received $17.5 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Emerald Coast Striping […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $17,500,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
May 27, 2021: DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $100,000 From Companies Connected To Full Sail University. According to Seeking Rents, “The tax break for Full Sail University was slipped into a long piece of tax legislation near the end of the 2021 legislative session. Lawmakers spent less than 30 seconds — House and Senate combined — publicly explaining it before they passed it. DeSantis signed the measure into law on May 24, 2021. Three days later, companies connected to Full Sail and its owners gave $100,000 to the governor’s political committee, records show.” [Seeking Rents, 7/21/22]
May 24, 2021: DeSantis Signed Legislation Which Would Save Full Sail University $1.3 Million In Property Taxes This Year. According to Seeking Rents, “A for-profit university owned by prominent political donors will save more than $1.3 million in property taxes this year, thanks to a tax break from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature. That’s the equivalent of 20 or so public-school teachers. The tax break for Full Sail University was slipped into a long piece of tax legislation near the end of the 2021 legislative session. Lawmakers spent less than 30 seconds — House and Senate combined — publicly explaining it before they passed it. DeSantis signed the measure into law on May 24, 2021.” [Seeking Rents, 7/21/22]
Language In The Bill Was Written To Specifically Describe And Benefit Full Sail University. According to Seeking Rents, “Emails obtained by the Orlando Sentinel after the session ended showed that this language was written specifically to describe Full Sail. And after it passed, Full Sail and the companies it leases land from used it to apply for exemptions on nine new parcels around the Full Sail campus. The Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office signed off on these new exemptions earlier this month. That means those nine parcels — which had a combined tax bill last year of just over $1.3 million — will now be removed from the tax rolls.” [Seeking Rents, 7/21/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $10,000 In Donations From Hale Contracting. According to the Intercept, “Hale Contracting […] Donations to DeSantis […] $10,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Hale Contracting Received $12.4 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Hale Contracting […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $12,400,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $18,5000 In Donations From Halley Engineering. According to the Intercept, “Halley Engineering […] Donations to DeSantis […] $18,5000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Halley Engineering Received $481,700,000 In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Halley Engineering […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $481,700,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Shortly After The Legislation Was Signed, The Billionaire Owner Of The Hard Rock Stadium Gave DeSantis $100,000 After The Session Ended, But Before DeSantis Acted On The Tax Break. According to Seeking Rents, “Earlier this month, DeSantis staged a signing ceremony at a Walmart in Ocala for HB 7071, $1.2 billion package of various tax breaks. Standing in front of television cameras with boxes of Huggies piled high behind him, DeSantis told the crowd about some of the tax breaks he was about to sign into law — like a temporary tax break on baby diapers. But the governor didn’t say a word about some of the other tax breaks he was approving at the same time — like a permanent tax break on tickets to Formula One Grand Prix races, which will cost the state $6 million a year in lost revenue in order to subsidize an annual Formula One race at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Lawmakers stuffed that tax break into their tax package as a favor for Steve Ross, the billionaire real-estate developer who owns the Miami Dolphins — and Hard Rock Stadium. […] Ross, who has been a generous donor to legislators in Tallahassee, made sure to show DeSantis some love, too. Shortly after the session ended, and before the governor acted on Ross’ tax break, records show Ross gave DeSantis $100,000.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
DeSantis Signed A $1.2 Billion Tax Package That Included A $6 Million Tax Break To Formula One Races At Hard Rock Stadium In Miami. According to Seeking Rents, “Earlier this month, DeSantis staged a signing ceremony at a Walmart in Ocala for HB 7071, $1.2 billion package of various tax breaks. Standing in front of television cameras with boxes of Huggies piled high behind him, DeSantis told the crowd about some of the tax breaks he was about to sign into law — like a temporary tax break on baby diapers. But the governor didn’t say a word about some of the other tax breaks he was approving at the same time — like a permanent tax break on tickets to Formula One Grand Prix races, which will cost the state $6 million a year in lost revenue in order to subsidize an annual Formula One race at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Lawmakers stuffed that tax break into their tax package as a favor for Steve Ross, the billionaire real-estate developer who owns the Miami Dolphins — and Hard Rock Stadium.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
DeSantis’ Political Groups Accepted $350,000 In Donations From Herzog Contracting. According to the Intercept, “The railroad company, Herzog Contracting, only received $115,000 in contracts under former Republican Gov. Rick Scott and did not donate to his campaign. Since the 2018 gubernatorial race, by contrast, the firm has given $350,000 to DeSantis or his state committee and has so far received $32.7 million in contracts from the Florida Department of Transportation, including work on a commuter rail project.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Herzog Contracting Received $32.7 Million In Contracts With The State. According to the Intercept, “The railroad company, Herzog Contracting, only received $115,000 in contracts under former Republican Gov. Rick Scott and did not donate to his campaign. Since the 2018 gubernatorial race, by contrast, the firm has given $350,000 to DeSantis or his state committee and has so far received $32.7 million in contracts from the Florida Department of Transportation, including work on a commuter rail project.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $44,300 In Donations From Holland & Knight.. According to the Daily Beast, “According to data with the Center for Responsive Politics, DeSantis’ old firm of Holland & Knight was the third-largest corporate source of campaign funds during his 2011-2018 congressional tenure. The company contributed a total $44,300 in employee and PAC donations—more than Koch Industries—and threw another $50,000 behind DeSantis’ 2018 gubernatorial bid.” [Daily Beast, 10/27/22]
Holland & Knight Received Over $3 Million In State Contracts Under DeSantis. According to the Daily Beast, “Until that year, Holland & Knight had pocketed only $2,750 in contracts with the state of Florida, per FACTS data. But in 2018, the firm developed what Law.com called ‘a new revenue stream’—‘defending state agencies and DeSantis in lawsuits, sometimes involving controversial legislation.’ According to the report, the firm raked in nearly $3 million between 2018 and 2020 while defending the state in three legal matters: a lawsuit over inadequate foster home care (which the state settled), the voting rights for felons case, and a 2020 suit regarding mail-in voting restrictions.” [Daily Beast, 10/27/22]
DeSantis’ Political Groups Accepted More Than $125,000 From IGT Global Solutions. According to Seeking Rents, “One of the largest lottery vendors in the world, IGT Global Solutions Plc has been very good to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Records show the company has given the governor more than $125,000 — including another $25,000 check cut just this past June.” [Seeking Rents, 10/18/22]
IGT Global Solutions PLC Was Sole Bidder On $18 Million Florida Lottery Contract. According to Seeking Rents, “One of the largest lottery vendors in the world, IGT Global Solutions Plc has been very good to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: Records show the company has given the governor more than $125,000 — including another $25,000 check cut just this past June. The DeSantis administration has been very good to IGT, too. The Florida Lottery, which is run by a DeSantis appointee, in July awarded an $18 million contract to IGT to install a new prize payment system. IGT, which is already one of the Florida Lottery’s biggest vendors, was the only bidder for the new deal.” [Seeking Rents, 10/18/22]
Florida Lottery Was Run By A DeSantis Appointee. According to Seeking Rents, “The Florida Lottery, which is run by a DeSantis appointee, in July awarded an $18 million contract to IGT to install a new prize payment system. IGT, which is already one of the Florida Lottery’s biggest vendors, was the only bidder for the new deal.” [Seeking Rents, 10/18/22]
February - April 2021: JM Family Donated $200,000 To DeSantis’ Political Committee. According to Seeking Rents, “This wasn’t even the first example involving JM Family, a privately held company based in Deerfield Beach that does $18 billion a year in sales. JM Family first donated to DeSantis’ political committee on March 10, 2021, giving the governor $100,000 […] Records show JM Family gave $100,000 to ‘Friends of Ron DeSantis’ on Feb. 24. […] JM Family, which will pay for the other half itself, then gave DeSantis another $100,000 on April 13.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
April 2021: DeSantis’ Administration Awarded JM Family Enterprise A $16.5 Million Grant To Pay For A New Facility. According to Seeking Rents, “Earlier this year, the administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis did a big favor for one of Florida’s largest companies, when it awarded a $16.5 million grant to help pay for a new vehicle-processing facility for JM Family Enterprises at the port of Jacksonville.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
Weeks Later, JM Family Enterprises Gave DeSantis’ Fundraising Committee Another $200,000. According to Seeking Rents, “A few weeks later, JM Family did a big favor for Ron DeSantis, when it donated $200,000 to the governor’s political fundraising committee.” [Seeking Rents, 5/24/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $10,000 From Johnson Bros. According to the Intercept, “Johnson Bros. Corporation […] Donations to DeSantis […] $10,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Johnson Bros. Received $696,900,000 In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Johnson Bros. Corporation […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $696,900,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $200,000 In Donations From Kane Financial Services. According to the Intercept, “Kane Financial Services […] Donations to DeSantis […] $200,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Kane Financial Services Received $211,000 In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Kane Financial Services […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $211,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $22,500 In Donations From M Of Tallahassee. According to the Intercept, “M of Tallahassee […] Donations to DeSantis […] $22,500.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
M Of Tallahassee Received $74 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “M of Tallahassee […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $74,000,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $31,000 In Donations From Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough. According to the Intercept, “Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough […] Donations to DeSantis […] $31,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Received $1.2 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $1,200,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $150,000 In Donations From Nomi Health. According to Politico’s Florida Playbook, “Some of the bigger contributors this past week include Standard Industries ($100,000) as well as Nomi Health ($50,000), a company that has received millions of dollars in state contracts for Covid-19 testing and vaccine work. Nomi Health gave $100,000 to DeSantis’ political committee in 2021.” [Politico –Florida Playbook, 7/5/22]
Nomi Health Received Millions In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to Politico’s Florida Playbook, “Some of the bigger contributors this past week include Standard Industries ($100,000) as well as Nomi Health ($50,000), a company that has received millions of dollars in state contracts for Covid-19 testing and vaccine work. Nomi Health gave $100,000 to DeSantis’ political committee in 2021.” [Politico –Florida Playbook, 7/5/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $82,500 In Donations From Palm Beach Aggregates. According to the Intercept, “Palm Beach Aggregates, LLC […] Donations to DeSantis […] $82,500.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Palm Beach Aggregates Received $30 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Palm Beach Aggregates, LLC […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $30,000,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $400,000 In Donations From John Rood. According to Seeking Rents, “Rood, who was once made ambassador to The Bahamas by former President George W. Bush, is one of the biggest Republican donors in Florida. Campaign-finance records show that Rood and his companies have given nearly $400,000 to DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida in the four years DeSantis has served as governor. (DeSantis has also called Rood a personal friend.)” [Seeking Rents, 9/12/22]
Public Records Showed DeSantis Aides Tried Helping Mega Donor And Real Estate Developer John Rood Pass A Bill Making It Easier To Turn Affordable Housing Into High-Cost Apartments. According to Seeking Rents, “Top aides to Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to help an apartment company run by a big campaign contributor pass legislation that could have forced thousands of Floridians living in affordable apartments out of their homes. The emails show that senior staffers to DeSantis worked with lobbyists for The Vestcor Companies on a proposal during the 2022 legislative session that would have made it easier for apartment developers like Vestcor to convert rent-controlled, affordable-housing units that were built with public subsidies into higher-priced, market-rate apartments and condos. DeSantis aides also met to discuss the proposal with John Rood, the founder and chairman of Vestcor, according to the Florida Times-Union.” [Seeking Rents, 9/12/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $10,000 In Donations From Ryan Inc., Southern. According to the Intercept, “Ryan Inc., Southern […] Donations to DeSantis […] $10,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Ryan Inc., Southern Received $8.3 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Ryan Inc., Southern […] Contracts under DeSantis [...] $8,300,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis And His Political Committee Accepted $4,000 In Donations From Visualscape. According to the Intercept, “Visualscape […] Donations to DeSantis [...] $4,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
Visualscape Received $19.4 Million In Contracts With The State Of Florida Under DeSantis. According to the Intercept, “Visualscape […] Contracts under DeSantis […] $19,400,000.” [Intercept, 9/27/22]
DeSantis’ Political Groups Accepted More Than $20 Million In Donations From The Republican Governors Association, Making Them DeSantis’ Biggest Donor. According to Florida Politics, “In the buildup to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ landslide re-election in November, he saw nearly 66,000 donations roll in from across the country. […] The biggest donor to the campaign was the Republican Governors Association, which spent $20,950,000 propping up one of the nation’s most prominent Governors.” [Florida Politics, 12/13/22]
The RGA Accepted $270,000 In Donations From AshBritt. According to the Tallahassee Democrat “Centene has given RGA $1.9 million since 2020, while The GEO Group gave RGA $1 million. Other RGA donors with Florida ties have given smaller amounts since 2020, including $225,000 from Publix, $200,000 from Florida East Coast Industries, $105,000 from the massive Central Florida retirement community The Villages and $270,000 from AshBritt, a Florida disaster recovery company that does extensive work in the state, especially following hurricanes.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
Ashbritt Received Contracts With The State Of Florida For Providing Meals For State Workers At COVID-19 Testing Sites. According to the Tallahassee Democrat “AshBritt is among a number of RGA donors that have received COVID-19 contracts in Florida. The company provided meals for state workers at COVID-19 testing sites.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “CDR Maguire has donated $105,000 to RGA since 2020.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
CDR Maguire Received A State Contract To Give Out COVID-19 Vaccines. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Another RGA donor, Miami-based CDR Maguire Inc, received a state contract to give COVID-19 vaccines to assisted living residents.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
The RGA Accepted $1.9 Million In Donations From Centene. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Behind RGA’s contributions to DeSantis are an array of other donors, some who would rank among DeSantis’ top campaign contributors if they donated to him directly. […] Centene has given RGA $1.9 million since 2020, while The GEO Group gave RGA $1 million. [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
Centene Had Contracts To Provide Health Contracts For More Than 70 Detention Facilities In Florida. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Centene has big contracts in Florida to provide health coverage for Medicaid patients and inmates in more than 70 detention facilities, while The GEO Group operates four detention facilities in Florida.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
The RGA Accepted Donations From Duke Energy. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Behind RGA’s contributions to DeSantis are an array of other donors, some who would rank among DeSantis’ top campaign contributors if they donated to him directly. They include the parent company of Florida Power & Light, Florida-based prison contractor The GEO Group, Duke Energy, Florida Medicaid and prison healthcare contractor Centene and Brightline train operator Florida East Coast Industries. Some of these entities stand to make a lot of money off DeSantis’ policies.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
DeSantis Appointed Members Of The Florida Public Service Commission Who Approved Duke Rate Hikes. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “DeSantis appoints members of the Florida Public Service Commission, who have approved FPL and Duke rate hikes.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
The RGA Accepted Donations From Florida Power & Light. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Behind RGA’s contributions to DeSantis are an array of other donors, some who would rank among DeSantis’ top campaign contributors if they donated to him directly. They include the parent company of Florida Power & Light, Florida-based prison contractor The GEO Group, Duke Energy, Florida Medicaid and prison healthcare contractor Centene and Brightline train operator Florida East Coast Industries. Some of these entities stand to make a lot of money off DeSantis’ policies.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
Florida Power & Light Parent Company NextEra Energy And FPL Gave DeSantis’ PAC $37,000 And The RGA $1.8 Million Since 2020. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “NextEra Energy, FPL’s parent company, and FPL contributed $37,000 combined to DeSantis’ PAC. NextEra has been much more generous with the RGA, giving $1.8 million since 2020.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
DeSantis Appointed Four Out Of Five Members To The Florida Public Services Commission, Who Approved FPL Rate Hikes. According to the American Independent, “Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign has reportedly taken millions of dollars in donations from a business network that includes the largest utility in the state and groups closely associated with it at the same time as the utility has implemented unprecedented rate increases. […] The Florida Public Service Commission regulates utilities in the state. DeSantis, who is running for reelection against Democrat Charlie Crist, appointed four out of five of the current members of the commission, which in October 2021 agreed to rate hikes for the utility that went into effect in January.” [American Independent, 10/28/22]
DeSantis Appointed Members Of The Florida Public Service Commission Who Approved FPL Rate Hikes. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “DeSantis appoints members of the Florida Public Service Commission, who have approved FPL and Duke rate hikes.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
Florida Power & Light Convinced DeSantis And The State Legislature To Give A New Tax Break On Hydrogen Power Equipment. According to Seeking Rents, “(Section 23, HB 7071, 2022) Last year, as part of an agreement allowing it to raise rates by more than $1.5 billion over the next four years, Florida Power & Light won approval to build a ‘green hydrogen’ power plant in Okeechobee County. A few months later, the giant utility persuaded DeSantis and the Legislature to create a new tax break on machinery and equipment used in the construction of green hydrogen power plants.” [Seeking Rents, 7/21/22]
The RGA Accepted $1 Million In Donations From The GEO Group. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Behind RGA’s contributions to DeSantis are an array of other donors, some who would rank among DeSantis’ top campaign contributors if they donated to him directly. […] Centene has given RGA $1.9 million since 2020, while The GEO Group gave RGA $1 million. [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
GEO Group Earned Over $110 Million In Florida Contracts After Giving The Republican Governors Association A $150,000 Donation. According to Seeking Rents, “Now, there’s no way to know much of the money from GEO was passed on to DeSantis. But it’s a good bet that some of it was. That’s because Florida is the most important state in the country for GEO, which is based in Boca Raton and made more than $110 million last year from Florida contracts, according to investor filings. GEO’s donations to the RGA included $150,000 given in mid-August — less than two weeks before the DeSantis administration renewed the company’s contract to run the 1,948-bed South Bay Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility in Palm Beach County. GEO has already banked more than $320 million on that contract since it was first signed in 2009. GEO is not the only private-prison contractor pouring money into the RGA. Tennessee-based CorCivic Inc., which manages the 893-bed Lake City Correctional Facility in north Florida, has given the Republican governors group at least $320,000 so far this year.” [Seeking Rents, 11/6/22]
The GEO Group Operated Four Detention Facilities In Florida. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Centene has big contracts in Florida to provide health coverage for Medicaid patients and inmates in more than 70 detention facilities, while The GEO Group operates four detention facilities in Florida.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
The RGA Accepted $2 Million From The Seminole Tribe. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through a blockbuster gambling deal last year that gave a big prize to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which secured exclusive rights to offer sports betting in the state. Now DeSantis is running for re-election and the Seminole Tribe is making a $2 million contribution that could help the governor secure another term. The $2 million doesn’t show up in state campaign finance reports, though. It didn’t go into DeSantis’ political committee. Instead, the Tribe gave the money to the Republican Governors Association, which has been writing big checks to DeSantis’ committee, acting as a pass through that allows some of the largest special interests in Florida to funnel money to the governor without as much scrutiny. […] Sports betting is estimated to be a multi-billion market in Florida, so securing exclusive access to it could be extremely lucrative for the Seminole Tribe, although the deal currently is tied up in court.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
The Donation Came After DeSantis Pushed Through A Gambling Deal In 2021 That Gave The Seminole Tribe Exclusive Rights To Sports Betting. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, “Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed through a blockbuster gambling deal last year that gave a big prize to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which secured exclusive rights to offer sports betting in the state. Now DeSantis is running for re-election and the Seminole Tribe is making a $2 million contribution that could help the governor secure another term. The $2 million doesn’t show up in state campaign finance reports, though. It didn’t go into DeSantis’ political committee. Instead, the Tribe gave the money to the Republican Governors Association, which has been writing big checks to DeSantis’ committee, acting as a pass through that allows some of the largest special interests in Florida to funnel money to the governor without as much scrutiny. […] Sports betting is estimated to be a multi-billion market in Florida, so securing exclusive access to it could be extremely lucrative for the Seminole Tribe, although the deal currently is tied up in court.” [Tallahassee Democrat, 6/23/22]
2018: DeSantis Took Six Undisclosed Private Flights And Lodging Through Wealthy Donors. According to the Washington Post, “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took at least six undisclosed trips on private jets and accepted lodging and dining in late 2018, according to flight manifests, tracking data and other documents obtained by The Washington Post that reflect his proclivity for luxury travel and leisure time with wealthy donors. The trips came during the period between DeSantis’s election and inauguration as governor.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
DeSantis Traveled To Augusta National Golf Club On A Plane Owned By Mega-Donor Mori Hosseini. According to the Washington Post, “On one, DeSantis traveled to the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club on a plane owned by Mori Hosseini, a major home builder who supplied a golf simulator in the governor’s mansion and later benefited from $92 million in federal pandemic funding that the DeSantis administration steered to a highway interchange project he sought. DeSantis took four other flights on a plane that was registered at the time to John Cwik, another DeSantis donor, records show.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
DeSantis Took Four Other Flights On A Private Plane Registered At The Time To DeSantis Donor John Cwik. According to the Washington Post, “On one, DeSantis traveled to the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club on a plane owned by Mori Hosseini, a major home builder who supplied a golf simulator in the governor’s mansion and later benefited from $92 million in federal pandemic funding that the DeSantis administration steered to a highway interchange project he sought. DeSantis took four other flights on a plane that was registered at the time to John Cwik, another DeSantis donor, records show.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
The Trips Occurred Between DeSantis’ Election And Inauguration. According to the Washington Post, “The trips came during the period between DeSantis’s election and inauguration as governor.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
DeSantis Did Not Report The Flights Or Accommodations As Gifts Or Campaign Contributions. According to the Washington Post, “DeSantis did not report the flights or accommodations as gifts or campaign contributions and it’s unclear whether he used a separate legal option to personally reimburse for the flights at the cost of coach airfare. A DeSantis spokesman said he complied with regulations but declined to specify how the costs of the trips were paid or how they met ethics and disclosure requirements.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
The Washington Post Noted It was Unclear Whether DeSantis Personally Reimbursed Donors For The Flights. According to the Washington Post, “DeSantis did not report the flights or accommodations as gifts or campaign contributions and it’s unclear whether he used a separate legal option to personally reimburse for the flights at the cost of coach airfare. A DeSantis spokesman said he complied with regulations but declined to specify how the costs of the trips were paid or how they met ethics and disclosure requirements.” [Washington Post, 9/14/23]
Major Contributors Have Funded Private Jet Trips For DeSantis, Including Some From Florida And Others Doing So Quietly Through A Nonprofit. According to the New York Times, “That night, he left Tallahassee on a Florida hotelier’s private jet, heading to Newark before a meet-and-greet with police officers on Staten Island on Monday morning. Next, he boarded a twin-jet Bombardier to get to a speech in the Philadelphia suburbs, before flying to a Knights of Columbus hall outside Chicago, and then home to his day job as governor of Florida. The tour and others like it were made possible by the convenience of private air travel — and by the largess of wealthy and in some cases secret donors footing the bill. As he prepared for his White House bid, Mr. DeSantis relied heavily on his rich allies to ferry him around the country to test his message and raise his profile. Many of these donors are familiar boosters from Florida, some with business interests before the state, according to a New York Times review of Mr. DeSantis’s travel. Others have been shielded from the public by a new nonprofit, The Times found, in an arrangement that drew criticism from ethics experts.” [New York Times, 5/20/23]
As DeSantis Took Advantage Of The Speed And Comfort Of A Donor-Funded Gulfstream Jet, He Has Taken Steps To Avoid Transparency In His Travels. According to the New York Times, “Mr. DeSantis, who formally announced his candidacy on Wednesday, is hardly the first politician to take advantage of the speed and comfort of a Gulfstream jet. […] Mr. DeSantis has aggressively navigated his state’s ethics and campaign finance laws to avoid flying commercial. And he has gone to new lengths to prevent transparency: He recently signed a bill making travel records held by law enforcement, dating back to the beginning of his term, exempt from public records requests.” [New York Times, 5/20/23]
DeSantis Mega Donor Ken Griffin Lobbied Lawmakers To Alter DeSantis’ Law Which Banned Chinese Real Estate Purchases In Order To Thwart Complications With Constructing Citadel’s $1 Billion Miami Headquarters. According to Bloomberg, “When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushed through an anti-China crackdown in his state earlier this year, he won praise from populist Republicans across the country. But to Ken Griffin, the state’s wealthiest man, the effort represented an ideological affront. In its most extreme version, the proposed legislation would have essentially prohibited citizens of seven nations, including China and Venezuela, from buying property anywhere in South Florida, even if they had work permits. Those limitations also could have posed complications for Griffin’s plan to relocate hundreds of employees to Miami where he’s planning to build a headquarters costing at least $1 billion.” [Bloomberg, 8/17/23]
Early Drafts Of The Bill Would Have Prevented All Chinese Citizens From Buying Real Estate Within 20 Miles Of Military Bases And Critical Infrastructure, Which Encompassed Most Of South Florida. According to Bloomberg, “Early drafts of the Florida legislation called for barring all Chinese citizens and others from buying real estate within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of military bases and critical infrastructure, such as ports, airports and power substations. That encompasses most of South Florida, including desirable Miami neighborhoods that would likely be a destination for Citadel employees such as the Brickell financial district, Coconut Grove or Miami Beach, where Griffin has spent hundreds of millions on property.” [Bloomberg, 8/17/23]
Citadel’s Lobbyists Persuaded Lawmakers To Carve Out An Exception In The Law For Those With U.S. Visas Be Permitted To Purchasing Property. According to Bloomberg, “Citadel’s lobbyists persuaded lawmakers to carve out an exception for lawful workers and others, according to people familiar with the process. So in the final version of the law, those with US visas — excluding tourists — are free to purchase a single property in the Miami enclaves, with restrictions only within a 5-mile radius of military bases.” [Bloomberg, 8/17/23]
DeSantis’ Gubernatorial Orgs Accepted $5 Million From Griffin During DeSantis’ Re-Election. According to Bloomberg, “While Griffin initially supported DeSantis financially — he donated $5 million to his re-election campaign for governor last year — and said in March ‘he would love to see’ the governor run for president — there are growing signs of tension between the two since DeSantis launched his bid for president.” [Bloomberg, 8/17/23]
DeSantis Accepted Nearly $3.3 Million In Campaign Donations From Around 250 Appointees. According to the Miami Herald, “Since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles — a 75% increase in the number of donors appointed compared to former Gov. Rick Scott’s first term in office, and over 10 times the amount of money. That’s based on an analysis by American Bridge 21st Century, a Democrat super PAC specialized in opposition research. The group, which shared its analysis with the Miami Herald, scrutinized contributions to the governor’s 2018 and 2022 campaign funds, as well as his associated political action committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, and his congressional campaign funds.” [Miami Herald, 10/19/22]
DeSantis Appointed 75% More Donors Than Scott. According to the Miami Herald, “Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war chest is almost bottomless. And it’s padded with donations from officials he appointed to positions throughout the state. While it’s common for governors to stack commissions, boards and task forces with their supporters, DeSantis has done so at a significantly higher rate than his predecessor, according to an analysis of campaign contributions and political appointments. Since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles — a 75% increase in the number of donors appointed compared to former Gov. Rick Scott’s first term in office, and over 10 times the amount of money. That’s based on an analysis by American Bridge 21st Century, a Democrat super PAC specialized in opposition research. The group, which shared its analysis with the Miami Herald, scrutinized contributions to the governor’s 2018 and 2022 campaign funds, as well as his associated political action committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, and his congressional campaign funds.” [Miami Herald, 10/19/22]
DeSantis Appointed Political Backers To New Disney Oversight Board. According to Politico, “Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday appointed members to a new board that oversees much of Disney World’s operations, settling a long-running conflict with the entertainment giant over Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law. DeSantis announced the five appointees, all political donors and loyalists, at a ceremony where he signed legislation that, in large part, creates a board to run the special district that previously granted Disney a wide range of freedom to self-govern. Florida’s GOP-dominated Legislature approved the bill during a special session earlier this month.” [Politico, 2/27/23]
Eight Of The 14 Members Of The Florida Board Of Medicine Were DeSantis Donors. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “As the Florida Board of Medicine considers banning medical treatments for transgender youth, a move urged by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, the board’s chairperson has assured LGBTQ advocates that the group ‘is vociferously apolitical.’ But at least eight of the board’s 14 members, who are all DeSantis appointees, have donated to the Republican governor’s campaigns or political committee, according to a Tampa Bay Times analysis. Among the donors are a GOP fundraiser close with the Bush family, a vascular surgeon who wrote a $25,000 check and the board chairperson, who contributed $2,000.” [Tampa Bay Times, 11/3/22]
Board Members Gave DeSantis’-Linked Groups Over $80,000 In Donations. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “The Board of Medicine, which licenses and disciplines Florida doctors, has been criticized for its handling of the proposal, which is set for a final vote just before Election Day. ‘You’re lapdogs for the governor,’ a man shouted at members in August. […] Board members have donated over $80,000 to DeSantis’ two campaigns for governor and his political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis.” [Tampa Bay Times, 11/3/22]
Florida Board Of Medicine Push To Ban Medical Treatments For Transgender Youth Came As DeSantis Took Political Aim At Treatments. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “As the Florida Board of Medicine considers banning medical treatments for transgender youth, a move urged by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration, the board’s chairperson has assured LGBTQ advocates that the group ‘is vociferously apolitical.’ […] Conservatives across the U.S., including DeSantis, have taken aim at transition-related treatments for transgender minors in recent months. They argue there isn’t enough evidence to prove such care is safe and effective, even though major medical groups have supported it for years. Now, DeSantis wants to block Florida doctors from prescribing the treatments to children.” [Tampa Bay Times, 11/3/22]
In Congress, DeSantis Voted Against A Congressional Motion Aimed At Prohibiting “Mergers That Would Unreasonably Increase The Costs Of Pharmaceutical Drugs.” According to the American Independent, “However, when DeSantis was a member of the House of Representatives, he voted against legislation that would lower the high cost of prescription drug costs multiple times. […] In 2018, DeSantis voted against a congressional motion aimed at prohibiting ‘mergers that would unreasonably increase the costs of pharmaceutical drugs.’” [American Independent, 1/13/23]
DeSantis Voted Against The Bipartisan Budget Act Of 2015, Which Included A Measure Forcing Drug Companies To Pay Rebates To The Federal Government For Raising Prices Beyond Inflation. According to the American Independent, “However, when DeSantis was a member of the House of Representatives, he voted against legislation that would lower the high cost of prescription drug costs multiple times. […] He also voted against the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which included a measure that forced drug companies to pay rebates to the federal government if they raised drug prices more than the cost of inflation. The bill was introduced in response to convicted felon Martin Shkreli’s company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, hiking the cost of Daraprim — an antiparasitic drug — overnight back in 2015. Turing raised the price of Daraprim from $13.50 a pill to $750 a pill, despite the fact that nothing about it had changed. The House of Representatives passed the bill 266-167, with all “no” votes coming from Republicans. The bill eventually became law.” [American Independent, 1/13/23]
2019 – January 2023: DeSantis Accepted More Than $350,000 In Campaign Contributions From The Pharmaceutical Industry. According to the American Independent, “However, when DeSantis was a member of the House of Representatives, he voted against legislation that would lower the high cost of prescription drug costs multiple times. He’s taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry since he was sworn in as governor in 2019, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. DeSantis has accepted more than $350,000 in campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies since 2019, including more than $53,000 in 2022 and more than $316,000 in 2021.” [American Independent, 1/13/23]
Americans For Prosperity Was The Political Arm Of A Network Developed By The Koch Brothers To Influence U.S. Politics And Was The Driving Force Behind Major Conservative Legislation Nationwide. According to The Guardian, “Yet events in Wisconsin are crucial to understanding how a little-known, billionaire-funded organization, called Americans for Prosperity (AFP), has tilted American politics to the right. It is intertwined with, and rivals in size, the Republican party itself. […] Instead, to understand what happened in Wisconsin – and what is happening in states across the country – we need to look to the underappreciated organization that is at the center of the political network created and directed by the billionaire conservative industrialists, Charles and David Koch. We are a group of Columbia and Harvard-based researchers who for the past five years have been investigating precisely how the Koch brothers work to influence US politics and the role played by AFP. In recent years, AFP has quietly pushed behind the scenes for many of the most important conservative victories across the nation, including the anti-union bills that passed in former union strongholds such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.” [Guardian, 9/26/18]
2022: Americans For Prosperity Endorsed DeSantis For Re-Election. According to The Capitolist, “The political arm of Americans for Prosperity backed Governor Ron DeSantis‘ re-election bid on Monday. Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP Action) announced today that it is officially endorsing DeSantis’ gubernatorial re-election campaign, promising to leverage its grassroots outreach and resources to ensure that he secures a second term as governor. ‘Gov. DeSantis has been a champion for Floridians through difficult and challenging times, and he has succeeded with his economic freedom-oriented approach,’ said AFP Action Senior Advisor Skylar Zander. ‘His support for policies— from reducing spending to expanding school choice — have caught the attention of people across the country who want to live in a state where the government respects and empowers its people. AFP Action volunteers across the state are ready to turn out to support his reelection.’” [The Capitolist, 5/2/22]
2021: Americans For Prosperity Spent Six Figures On Ad Campaign Supporting DeSantis’ Education Policies. According to Florida Politics, “Americans for Prosperity-Florida has launched an ad campaign praising Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing a recent school choice expansion. The ad, a 30-second video airing on television and online, thanks DeSantis for signing the school voucher bill (HB 7045) and encourages him to continue supporting school choice. AFP-FL, the state branch of a libertarian advocacy group, spent six figures on the ad, which is running statewide.” [Florida Politics, 5/25/21]
2018: DeSantis Was Given A 100% Rating From Americans For Prosperity. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “DeSantis is a creature of the Washington beltway, a darling of conservative interest groups like Americans for Prosperity and the American Conservative Union, and a fixture on Fox News. […] Americans for Prosperity and the American Conservative Union give him 100 percent ratings.” [Tampa Bay Times, 1/7/18]
2018: DeSantis Had An Americans For Prosperity Lifetime Rating Of 98%. According to VoteSmart, then-Rep. DeSantis had a 98% score from Americans for Prosperity for 2018, the last year he was in Congress. [VoteSmart, “Americans for Prosperity – 2018 Ratings,” accessed 3/8/23]
AFP Said That DeSantis “Truly Earned Their 100 Rating On Our AFP Scorecard” According to AFP Website, “A Republican from Florida’s 6th district, Ron DeSantis consistently votes to protect the American dream and the economic freedoms which allow Americans to be successful and achieve their goals. He has worked hard and voted in accordance with these ideals and has successfully aided several major bills which advance these ideals. […] This individual has truly earned their 100 rating on our AFP scorecard. They have been dedicated to freedom from day 1 and their voting record proves it. We are proud to award them this distinction and hope they continue to promote the great ideas which have fought back against government overreach and allowed their districts economies to flourish.” [AFP Website, 7/21/14]
DeSantis Attended A Koch Brothers Retreat In Palm Springs, California. According to Florida Politics, “U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis loves to travel. And travel he did this weekend, to Palm Springs for a Koch brothers retreat. The Freedom Partners event dealt with fundraising and fund expenditure. The hope is to funnel up to $900 million into this campaign, reports The Desert Sun. The Hill’s Jonathan Swan tweets that DeSantis was there, along with Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Texas Lt. Gov. Jeb Hensarling, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.” [Florida Politics, 1/31/16]
DeSantis Would Seek To Benefit From The Koch Conservative Network With “Hefty Advertising Support” By Those Attending The Weekend Retreat. According to The Guardian, “DeSantis is seeking to replace senator and presidential candidate Marco Rubio – who is not running for re-election to the Senate in 2017 – and faces a GOP primary in August. As an invitee to the Koch confab, DeSantis has a good shot at benefitting from what the conservative network specializes in: hefty advertising support from the tax-exempt nonprofits that industrialists Charles and David Koch and their wealthy allies underwrite via unlimited and dark money. DeSantis and other congressional guests are also hoping to see Super Pacs that support them receive checks that donors, thanks to the Citizens United decision, can write with no upper limit.” [Guardian, 1/29/16]
DeSantis Attended The FreedomWorks 912 Grassroots Summit In Orlando, FL. According to a press release by FreedomWorks via Plus Media Solutions, “FreedomWorks ‘Back Stage with Congressman Ron DeSantis FL-6th District.’ As he sits down back stage at FreedomWorks 912 Grassroots Summit in Orlando, FL to discuss The US House of Representatives and the up hill battles that he fights against on a daily basis.” [FreedomWorks via Plus Media Solutions, 10/6/15]
DeSantis Spoke At A FreePAC Florida Event. According to a press release by FreedomWorks via PR Newswire, “Grassroots event will feature activist training and speakers including Matt Kibbe, Glenn Beck, Connie Mack and Ron DeSantis[.] The following is being released by FreedomWorks: Thousands of conservatives from across the country will gather in Florida for a massive grassroots activist training and a lineup of impressive speakers from the limited-government movement at FreePAC Florida in the greater Orlando area. The event will begin with grassroots training on a variety of topics, including yard sign blitzing, phone banking, roll call vote research, old and new media strategy, and door-to-door outreach. The evening rally will be headlined by (in no specific order): Matt Kibbe, FreedomWorks president Glenn Beck, media entrepreneur and founder of The Blaze Rep. Connie Mack (FL-14) Ron DeSantis, former federal prosecutor and Navy veteran Trey Radel, businessman and conservative spokesperson Rep. Tim Scott (SC-1) Rep. Jim Jordan (OH-4) Deneen Borelli, FreedomWorks Outreach Director Rev. CL Bryant, FreedomWorks Fellow and star of the ‘Runaway Slave’ documentary Dana Loesch, nationally syndicated radio host.” [FreedomWorks via PR Newswire, 10/11/12]
DeSantis Will Be Hosting A Town Hall With Koch-Funded Concerned Veterans For America. According to a Concerned Veterans for America press release obtained via Concerned Veterans for America’s website, “Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) is coming to Tampa for a ‘Veterans and Military Town Hall’ with Congressman Ron DeSantis Friday, May 20, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at The Cuban Club of Tampa (2010 N Avenida Republica de Cuba). The event is part of CVA’s ‘Defend and Reform’ Policy Series. Representative DeSantis, Dan Caldwell, CVA’s vice president of political and legislative action, and Diego Echeverri, CVA’s Florida state director, will join local veterans to talk about the critical issues facing Florida veterans, military families, and—by extension—all Americans. […] Caldwell issued the following statement regarding the event: ‘This town hall will give veterans and their families the chance to make their voices heard on the important issues of our day, issues which are of special importance to those who have worn the uniform and served our country. They deserve to know what national policymakers will do to keep our country safe, ensure those who have served are treated with the highest standard of dignity, and care and restore fiscal responsibility in our nation’s capital.” [Concerned Veterans for America, 5/18/16]
DeSantis Planned To Attend A Town Hall Hosted By Koch–Backed Veterans Group, Concerned Veterans For America. According to the Tampa Bay Times, “U.S. Senate hopeful Ron DeSantis is back in Tampa on Friday, aiming to build up support within the region’s military and veterans community. […] Tonight, he speaks to a veterans groups that has been highly critical to President Barack Obama’s policies and has ties to the Koch brothers. The Concerned Veterans for America said the event at the Cuban Club in Ybor City is not a campaign event for DeSantis, but instead a town hall meeting to discuss ‘critical issues facing Florida veterans, military families and -- by extension -- all Americans.’ […] Concerned Veterans for American is classified as a non-partisan, non-profit group, but has been flagged by groups like SourceWatch for having ties to the politically active Koch Brothers.” [Tampa Bay Times, 5/20/16]
DeSantis Received A Golf Simulator For The Governor’s Mansion From Donor Mori Hosseini. According to the Washington Post, “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s wealthy donors and supporters lent a golf simulator to the Governor’s Mansion and provided private flights to fundraisers and other political events, according to records obtained by The Washington Post. The golf simulator came from Mori Hosseini, a major home builder who chairs the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees and lent the device to the Governor’s Mansion in DeSantis’s first year in office, according to documents released to The Post in response to a public records request.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
DeSantis’ Chief Of Staff James Uthmeier, Then DeSantis’ Lawyer, Approved The Golf Simulator Loan From Hosseini. According to the Washington Post, “‘This letter acknowledges that the Mansion Commission has received golf simulator equipment from Mori Hosseini to be possessed on loan at the Governor’s Mansion for an undisclosed term,’ reads a 2019 letter to Hosseini from James Uthmeier, formerly a DeSantis lawyer and now his chief of staff. ‘This equipment will be stored within the Florida Governor’s Mansion gym and will be returned to you immediately upon request. I have reviewed and approved the circumstances of this loan to the Mansion Commission and verify that it is permissible in accordance with the Governor’s Ethics Code and Florida Statutory Code.’” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
DeSantis Spokesman Jeremy Redfern Said The Golf Simulator “Will Remain In The State’s Possession For The Use Of First Families, Their Guests, And Staff As It Is Now.” According to the Washington Post, “In an emailed statement, DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern said, ‘As with all donations, it was accepted and coordinated by staff and approved by legal counsel. Donations to the residence and grounds have been received over many administrations. It will remain in the state’s possession for the use of first families, their guests, and staff as it is now.’” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
The Simulators Started At $27,500 and Curved Screen Versions Started At $69,500. According to the Washington Post, “DeSantis’s security cleared two employees of Ohio-based AboutGolf to enter the Governor’s Mansion in June 2019 to install the golf simulator, according to an email released to The Post. AboutGolf simulators that require installation are typically built to fit a specific space and start at $27,500, according to a listing by Precision Sports. Curved-screen versions start at $69,500.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
DeSantis And His Wife Used Hosseini’s Plane On At Least 12 Occasions. According to the Washington Post, “According to campaign finance disclosures reviewed by The Post, Hosseini also lent DeSantis and his wife use of his private plane on at least 12 occasions, including as recently as February. In 2018, Hosseini took DeSantis to play at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia — which boasts an exclusive membership and is home to the storied Masters Tournament — according to internal memos reported by the Tampa Bay Times and Politico. [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
Casey DeSantis Used Hosseini’s Plane To Announce A Mental Health Initiative Outside Jacksonville. According to the Washington Post, “In 2019, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis took a private jet owned by Hosseini to announce a mental health initiative outside Jacksonville, Politico reported. ‘I am doing everything that I can in accordance with the law,’ she said at the time.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
DeSantis Renewed Hosseini’s Appointment To The University Of Florida’s Board. According to the Washington Post, “Hosseini heads ICI Homes, one of the state’s largest developers, and lives in Ormond Beach, near Daytona Beach. He was appointed to the University of Florida board in 2016 by then-Gov. Rick Scott (R) and elected chair in 2018. DeSantis renewed his appointment in 2021.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
Hosseini Was Involved In Hiring Republican Senator Ben Sasse As The University’s New President. According to the Washington Post, “In that role, Hosseini was involved in controversial hires at the university including its new president, former Republican senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and physician Joseph Ladapo, a critic of coronavirus vaccines whose appointment to the medical school coincided with DeSantis’s naming him surgeon general.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
Hosseini Was Involved In Hiring Joseph Ladapo, Who Was A Critic Of Coronavirus Vaccines, At The Medical School. According to the Washington Post, “In that role, Hosseini was involved in controversial hires at the university including its new president, former Republican senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and physician Joseph Ladapo, a critic of coronavirus vaccines whose appointment to the medical school coincided with DeSantis’s naming him surgeon general.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]
Hosseini Was Criticized For Blocking University Professors From Testifying In A Challenge To The State’s New Voting Restrictions. According to the Washington Post, “Hosseini’s leadership also came under criticism in 2021 when University of Florida professors were blocked from testifying against the state in a legal challenge to new voting restrictions. The university president later relented, allowing the professors to testify as long as they did not use university time or resources. At the time, Hosseini denied that his relationship with DeSantis had any influence over the university’s decisions on professors’ outside activities.” [Washington Post, 6/21/23]