Report: DeSantis-Supporting Super PAC Got Largest Donation of ‘23

Facts

• Data from the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows that a super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, received the largest individual donation of 2023.¹
• On March 30, Robert T. Bigelow donated approximately $20M to Never Back Down, Inc. — the most contributed by an individual all year. Bigelow's donation was followed by billionaire Jeff Yass' $10M contribution to Club For Growth Action on June 7.²
• Yass also donated two separate sums of $5M and $1M to Club for Growth Action. Meanwhile, Timothy Mellon made two $5M donations to American Values 2024 and the Congressional Leadership Fund, respectively, while Jim and Rob Walton made separate donations of the same value to Americans for Prosperity Action Inc.²
• Club For Growth is a conservative super PAC that opposes former Pres. Donald Trump. America for Prosperity Action has endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and the Congressional Leadership Fund supports Republican congressional candidates. American Values 2024 has endorsed independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.¹
• Never Back Down Inc. also received the largest overall donation of 2023 at $82.5M from Empower Parents PAC on May 31, followed by two $25M donations to Americans for Prosperity Action Inc. by Koch Industries Inc. and Stand Together Chamber of Commerce on May 19 and 11, respectively.²
• Despite being DeSantis' largest donor, Bigelow — owner of Budget Suites of America and Bigelow Aerospace — recently criticized DeSantis' six-week abortion ban in an interview and claimed Trump was 'too strong' to beat in the Republican nomination race.³

Sources: ¹Forbes, ²FEC.gov and ³POLITICO.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by National Review. Despite an incredible amount of financing, the reality is that DeSantis' super PAC-centered candidacy has produced no meaningful challenge for the Republican nomination. The recent departures of many Never Back Down top officials, the cancellation of TV advertising, and consistently poor polling means DeSantis' time in national politics may be coming to an embarrassingly quick end.
• Narrative B, as provided by Los Angeles Times. While large contributions may steal the headlines, it’s the avalanche of small donations that should be of greater focus. Candidates on both sides of the aisle are often guilty of focusing on the average citizen, with the aim of mobilizing a hoard of minor donations and primary support. To do so, they sell a dangerous brand of populism, whipping up an electoral frenzy with the aim of seeing the masses donate what little disposable income they have.

Predictions