State Staff Solicit DeSantis Donations, Raising Ethics Questions

Topline

Staffers for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) in his governor’s office have been soliciting donations for DeSantis’ presidential campaign from lobbyists, NBC News reported—raising questions about whether state resources are illegally being used.

Staffers for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his executive office have reportedly been soliciting … [+] donations for his presidential campaign from lobbyists, raising ethical and legal questions. (Photo by Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

The Washington Post via Getty Images

Key Facts

Staffers in the governor’s office have been sending text messages to lobbyists asking them to donate to his campaign through a link that appears to keep tabs on who is giving, NBC News reported, noting it reviewed texts from four DeSantis administration officials.

At least 10 GOP lobbyists in Florida told NBC they can’t recall being solicited for donations from administration officials in the past, and Republican consultants and fundraisers in other states said they have not heard of a similar situation.

Most of the lobbyists reportedly said they felt pressured to give to the campaign and expressed concern that refusing to do so could jeopardize their business interests in the ongoing state budget process.

The practice also contradicts DeSantis’ mantra as a Washington outsider who wants to “drain the swamp” and “breaks systems,” which is printed on T-shirts sold by his campaign.

Forbes has reached out to the governor’s office and the DeSantis campaign.

Chief Critic

A Florida election law attorney suggested the practice may constitute a breach of state ethics laws that prevent state officials from using their official authority to fundraise for political campaigns. “There’s a misuse of public position issue here that is obvious to anyone paying attention,” the attorney told NBC News.

Crucial Quote

“It is walking a very close line to what is ethical and possibly legal,” a Florida lobbyist told NBC.

Big Number

$8.2 million. That’s the amount DeSantis’ campaign raised in the first 24 hours after launching, spokesperson Andrew Romeo told Forbes, nearly $2 million more than President Joe Biden raised in the first 24 hours after launching his 2020 campaign.

Key Background

DeSantis formally entered the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday when he filed candidacy paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, pitting him against his one-time ally former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination. DeSantis announced his campaign in a discussion with Twitter owner Elon Musk on Twitter Spaces that was plagued by technical glitches that prevented DeSantis from speaking more than 20 minutes into the scheduled start time. DeSantis, who trails Trump in polls by double-digit margins, did not mention Trump until Thursday, when he accused him in radio interviews of “going left on the culture” and said he believes he has a “good chance to beat him.”