Republican donors largely distanced themselves from Ron DeSantis as his presidential campaign faced challenges last summer, prompting his team to seek support from donors with ties to Florida.
CDR Enterprises, a contractor involved in the state’s COVID-19 response, donated $1 million to Fight Right, an aligned super PAC, in the campaign’s final weeks.
Similarly, Herzog Railroad Services, contracted for a rail extension project, contributed $250,000 to Never Back Down, another aligned super PAC.
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Casino magnate Jeffrey Soffer also donated $1 million on the day the campaign announced layoffs. DeSantis publicly supported Soffer’s bid to transfer a casino license to his Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach after exiting the presidential race.
Fundraisers described the shift to donors with interests in Florida as a strategic move. They reached out to Florida-based clients, emphasizing DeSantis’s potential as a powerful governor.
Despite entering the presidential race with significant funding, DeSantis struggled to attract major donors in the latter half of the year. However, contributions from Florida-based donors increased during this period.
James Uthmeier, DeSantis’s chief of staff, refuted claims of favoritism, asserting the governor’s principles and supporters’ belief in his leadership.
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DeSantis continues to engage donors post-campaign, planning an “Investor Appreciation Retreat” in April at a Seminole Gaming-owned hotel. Seminole Gaming previously supported DeSantis’s reelection campaign and a super PAC.
Craig Mateer, a major supporter appointed to oversight positions, provided transportation services to DeSantis. He also hosted meetings for DeSantis’s aides at his hotel in Tallahassee.
Mateer, a former owner of an airport baggage logistics company, sold his business in 2018. He has since been involved in patent technology related to airport baggage handling.
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