Ashley Moody reports more than $8.4M raised this cycle

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody added another $2.6 million for her statewide campaign in the first quarter. That means the Plant City Republican has raised more than $8.4 million as she runs for a seat she was appointed to last year.

But that also means the $8 million raised by Democratic challenger Alex Vindman in just his first quarter as a candidate rivals the incumbent’s haul over the course of the election cycle.

Moody still started April with almost $7.13 million in cash on hand. Vindman said he has $6.2 million available as of the end of Q1.

That suggests that even with Florida’s rightward tilt in recent years — a shift that occurred as Moody became the top vote-getter in Florida in both 2018 and 2022 — Democrats could put up an expensive fight against the freshman Senator.

Moody’s federal filing showed about $1.34 million came into her campaign coffers from individual contributions, and almost $517,000 of that from small donors.

Meanwhile, PACs and other political committees donated $362,000 to her campaign, and she reported more than $912,000 courtesy of a transfer from a separate authorized committee.

Vindman said the totals signaled voters in Florida were ready for a change in direction.

“Floridians are being crushed by the skyrocketing cost of gas, groceries, and housing — and they know career politicians like Ashley Moody are to blame,” Vindman said.

“Ashley Moody has spent her time in Washington cozying up to lobbyists and special interests, trading millions of dollars of stock, and selling out hardworking Floridians who are facing an affordability crisis. Today’s fundraising numbers prove that our campaign is being fueled by grassroots supporters who are fed up with the rampant corruption in D.C. and rising costs, while Moody’s campaign is bankrolled by the political elite.”

Moody was appointed last year to a seat vacated when former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio after confirmed as Secretary of State. But she will have to stand election again in November. The winner will serve two years before the seat comes up again as regularly scheduled.

Vindman’s campaign also pointed to a recent poll that showed him within striking distance of defeating Moody.

Notably, Vindman still faces a Democratic Primary against state Rep. Angie Nixon, a Jacksonville Democrat, and several minor candidates. Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is also filed as a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, but has not announced if he will run for the seat this year.

Moody also faces some Republican opponents, most notably pardoned Jan. 6 defendant Jake Lang.