Byron Donalds adds $1.8 million to campaign account in first 12 days of June, continues fundraising domination

Gubernatorial front-runner Byron Donalds continues to set the pace in the 2026 field, bringing in roughly $1.8 million between June 1 and June 12.

He raised $348,973 to his campaign account and another $1,451,300 to the Friends of Byron Donalds PAC during the period.

The biggest donor during the period was Henri Jean of Odessa, who gave $500,000.

The automotive Dealer Services Network and Club for Growth Action Florida also gave six-figure amounts.

Donalds actually spent more than he raised during the period, with nearly $2 million deployed between the two accounts. Nearly $900,000 was spent on media placement, with canvassing and consulting costs making up another significant segment of spending.

Still, his political operation carried nearly $65 million out of the fundraising period, with other candidates way behind and not exactly showing that their campaigns are viable against a Donalds machine that has been in a higher gear than the competition from beginning to end.

While fundraising isn’t everything, the disparity between the Donalds operation and those of rival campaigns justifies the state party’s much-criticized decision not to stage a debate at next week’s “Sunshine State Showdown” between the Donald Trump backed front-runner and a field of candidates not registering in polls or with donors at large.

Provocateur James Fishback continues to be propped up by a single donor, with Daniel Hassan giving another $200,000 to his Florida First PAC. He didn’t even raise $20,000 more from other sources during the 12 day period.

It’s hard to tell where legitimate campaign expenses begin and end in the Fishback accounting. Curious line items like $107.39 to LL Bean for “campaign supplies” and a $12.27 HBO Max subscription are funded by the PAC.

His campaign has less than $200,000 to spend down the stretch, but at least the candidate can catch up on Sopranos reruns.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, who surprised many by closing out May with a $5 million donation to his Quiet Professionals FL political committee, didn’t deliver an encore to kick off June.

He brought in less than $68,000 between his campaign account and the committee, while spending more than $590,000, including $140,000 on fundraising consulting.

$50,000 of the total monthly haul came in from Mark Styslinger, an investment manager from Alabama who comes from generational wealth.

Collins carried roughly $5.5 million forward from this report.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner had the worst fundraising of the group during the 12 days, raising less than $50,000 between his campaign account and the Friends of Paul Renner political committee. He spent roughly $625,000 during the same period and carried roughly $2.6 million forward as of June 12.

The biggest spend by far was $391,800 to Deltona’s Building America Strategy Group for grassroots consulting.

“We win the unwinnable,” the organization promises on its homepage.

Renner clearly is betting big on that claim being proven true.