Two Republican contenders for Florida’s open U.S. House seats, endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, face decisions regarding their state-level campaign funds as they transition to federal races.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced his resignation effective March 31, to pursue the Congressional District 1 seat left vacant by Matt Gaetz. Simultaneously, State Senator Randy Fine is running for District 6, after Mike Waltz vacated the position. Both candidates have substantial state-level campaign funds: Patronis with $6.8 million in Keep Florida Free and Fine with $1 million in Friends of Randy Fine.
Historically, state-level political funds in Florida could not be used for federal campaigns. However, changes influenced by Gov. Ron DeSantis, leveraging a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, have altered this landscape. The ruling allows donations from Florida political committees to federal super PACs, provided there is no coordination with a candidate.
This regulatory shift came into prominence as DeSantis positioned himself for a presidential bid, transferring funds from his state committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, to a federal super PAC supportive of his campaign. The maneuver led to complaints to the Federal Elections Commission by Campaign Legal Center, questioning the legality of such fund transfers and potential coordination with super PACs.
While similar strategies have been employed by candidates like U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, resulting in deadlocked FEC votes and no penalties, the outcome for Patronis and Fine remains uncertain. Patronis has yet to confirm any intent to redirect his state campaign funds federally. His political consultant, Melissa Stone, stated she “couldn’t speak to that at this time.”
As the qualifying period for the congressional races in Districts 1 and 6 nears, Patronis faces competition from State Rep. Joel Rudman in a predominantly Republican district. Fine seems to have a less competitive field, bolstered by Trump’s endorsement, enhancing his and Patronis’s odds of winning.
Fine’s committee, Friends of Randy Fine, has transitioned under new leadership, with Jason Fischer assuming the chairmanship. This move coincides with the timeline set by DeSantis for the special elections, culminating in primaries on January 28 and general elections on April 1.
As Florida Republicans Patronis and Fine transition from state to federal races, the evolving campaign finance environment presents new opportunities and challenges. Their use of state political funds in federal campaigns will be closely watched, potentially setting precedents for future candidates navigating similar transitions.
Source: News-journalonline
