Republicans nationwide ‘woke up in a panic’ over Ashley Moody’s weak fundraising

Democratic Senate candidate Alex Vindman says Republicans should be panicking over U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody’s fundraising numbers.

Moody, an appointed incumbent, raised less than half of Vindman’s haul during the most recent quarter, and now has less in total fundraising over the full election cycle than her top rival.

“This is a stark contrast in fundraising that provides clarity that we have real grassroots support and enthusiasm behind this race,” Vindman said. “Our campaign has energized not just Democrats but united Independents and Republicans.”

In total, Vindman collected $14.4 million for his campaign, according to his Federal Election Commission report. Moody, by comparison, raised $10.8 million for her official campaign, though she collected more than $14 million across all committees supporting her.

Vindman spent more than Moody as well, and closed the quarter with $7.3 million in cash on hand compared to Moody’s $8.4 million. And Moody, for her part, boasted about the fundraising as a sign of strength.

“Floridians are fired up, and this quarter’s numbers prove it,” she said. “From the Panhandle to the Keys, we are building a coalition of grassroots supporters who are ready to keep Florida the freest state in the nation.”

But Vindman said his campaign successfully outperforming the GOP incumbent in the race for dollars just prefaces outperforming her on the campaign trail.

Both Moody and Vindman still face August Primaries for their respective party nominations, and Vindman arguably faces more serious competition.

State Rep. Angie Nixon, a Jacksonville Democrat, has raised $625,000, the only other candidate on the ballot to crack six figures. But she has burned through it quickly and closed the second quarter with around $119,000 in cash. In the last three months, Nixon spent about $488,000, more than the $410,000 she raised in the same time.

For those reasons, Vindman’s campaign has already focused on the General Election. And he thinks national Republicans are doing the same.

“I think it’s safe to say that Republicans woke up this morning with a bit of a panic,” Vindman said.

There are signs that national Republicans have turned more attention toward Florida, even after the last two Senate races saw double-digit victories for the GOP candidates. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott won re-election by 12 percentage points in 2024 and former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio won his last race by 17 points in 2022.

During an appearance on The Matt Gaetz Show, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters, a Floridian himself, listed Moody among its field of “MAGA Warriors” representing the party in Senate races. He rattled off her name along with candidates in competitive races in Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska and Texas.

“We’re getting the favorable matchups we want,” Gruters said.

Vindman’s campaign said it’s clear the race is starting to earn national attention unseen in Florida in nearly a decade. That shows Republicans know Moody is a weaker candidate.

“Ashley Moody is no Marco Rubio or Rick Scott,” said Blakely Wall, Vindman’s Campaign Manager. “She is not known in this state, has never run a real campaign. And Alex is building a campaign built to win.”

Moody was appointed to her seat and just took office last year after Rubio’s confirmation as Secretary of State. She did win two races for Attorney General but polls show she doesn’t have the same recognition as those who have appeared at the top of the ballot.

The campaign also said this is a radically different political environment to run in than when Rubio or Scott last stood for election. The campaign last month released polling showing Trump underwater with voters in his home state, less popular even than in 2018, the last time Democrats won any statewide elections. That shows Florida voters are rethinking the entire Republican agenda.

“For our theory of victory, hardworking families across the political spectrum are watching their dream get priced out of existence. They’re working harder than ever and falling further behind. And they know that career politicians like Ashley Moody are to blame,” Vindman said.