DeSantis has a $20 million haul, but the full picture of the money race is still hazy

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis raised $20 million in the first six weeks of his presidential run, his campaign said Thursday, a substantial amount that solidifies his position as former President Donald J. Trump’s chief rival.

While the number is less than the $35 million the former president says Trump’s campaign raised in the three months ending June 30, Mr. DeSantis had only half the time to raise campaign funds after he was half officially entered the race in May.

In addition to the $20 million the DeSantis campaign said it had raised, a super PAC backing Mr. DeSantis, Never Back Down, said Thursday it had raised $130 million since March. But nearly two-thirds of that amount was donated to the group by a state commission that had supported Mr. DeSantis’ re-election last year.

The campaign totals — more detailed figures not due until July 15 with the Federal Election Commission — give a first glimpse of the fundraising battle between the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, a race that could set records for expenses.

The $20 million that Mr. DeSantis raised includes $8.2 million that his campaign said it raised on its first full day of fundraising in late May, suggesting that the pace of fundraising slowed significantly after that.

Excluding Mr. DeSantis’ state commission transfer, the latest numbers also show that Never Back Down raised more money in its first three weeks than in roughly the past three months.

The fundraising delay comes after a bumpy campaign rollout that has raised questions from donors and supporters about its direction.

But Kristin Davison, chief operating officer of Never Back Down, said the money raised “demonstrates an unparalleled, unprecedented and hugely successful fundraising operation unlike any other candidate in this race.”

Mr. Trump has raised most of his campaign money through his leadership PAC, Save America. In recent months, The New York Times reported, Trump has diverted a larger portion of the donations he receives to the PAC, which he has used to pay his personal legal fees.

Mr Trump’s campaign said on Wednesday it had raised a total of $35 million between April and June — almost double what the committee had raised in the first quarter of the year, due to significant fundraising bumps in the wake of his two charges. in New York City and Florida.

Shane Goldmacher reporting contributed.