Fueled heavily by contributions from utilities and health-care companies, the Republican Party of Florida far outpaced the state Democratic Party in raising money during the second quarter of 2011.
The GOP raised $3,489,343 between April 1 and June 30, more than three times the $1,121,132 raised by Democrats, according to records released Monday.
Among the major Republican donors: NextEra Energy and its affiliated Florida Power & Light Co., $280,000; U.S. Sugar Corp. and its affiliated Southern Garden Groves, $275,000; Tenet Healthcare Corp., $160,000; TECO Energy, $145,000; and HCA hospital company affiliates, $110,000.
The largest Democratic Party donor, by far, was a group called Conservatives for a Better Jacksonville, which totaled $426,000. That group, which backed Alvin Brown in his successful run for Jacksonville mayor, was financed by donors such as businessman Peter Rummell and Dolores Barr Weaver, whose husband is the lead owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Other major contributors to the Democratic Party included Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, $124,624; and the Florida Police Benevolent Association, $41,000. Blue Cross also was a large Republican donor, contributing $100,000 during the quarter.
