Dirty Money: Big Sugar campaign cash nears $2.5 million in 2025

Midterm elections are still a year away — but Florida’s sugar industry continues to spend like there’s no tomorrow.

The latest campaign finance data shows that Big Sugar has given at least $2.48 million in “dirty money” — political contributions — to state candidates and political action committees so far in 2025. The vast majority comes from U.S. Sugar ($1.5 million) and Florida Crystals ($909,750); and the lion’s share went to PACs, though dozens of individual lawmakers got money directly from the sugar companies.

Follow this link to our website for our comprehensive report, including the full list of who got what — and why it matters.

Huge money gap separates GOP, Dem governor candidates

The Tampa Bay Times crunched the data to show that Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who’s now running for Florida Governor, dwarfs his opponents in terms of money raised.

Between July and September, Donalds and his “Friends of Byron Donalds” political committee raised $9.3 million for his gubernatorial campaign.

Leading Democratic challenger David Jolly and his committee, "Florida 2026," raised $924,182 in the third quarter. That is, one-tenth of what Donalds raised.

Republican former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, who’s challenging Donalds for the GOP nod, has raised more than $400,000.

Curiously, Donalds — who took plenty of sugar money when he ran for Congress — doesn’t appear to have taken any money from Big Sugar in his gubernatorial campaign, though he has taken money from PACs like “Florida PC,” which are heavily funded by sugar companies. Donalds has also taken piles of money from development interests, utility companies and others purveyors of “dirty money.”

Jolly appears to have taken very little if anything from polluters. Which is awesome! But he needs about 10 times more “awesome” to compete with Donalds’ war chest.

The Tampa Bay Times also reports that in the race for Attorney General, GOP incumbent James Uthmeier — he of “Alligator Alcatraz” fame — has outraised presumptive Democratic challenger Jose Javier Rodriguez, $1.6 million to $234,000. 

“Like Donalds and Renner, (Uthmeier) got a quarter-million from CDR Enterprises,” reported the Times. That’s notable because CDR is one of the vendors involved in the construction and operation of “Alligator Alcatraz.”

And that may be the dirtiest of the “dirty money” we’ll see in this election cycle.

Worst bill of the session

(and session hasn't even started yet!)

We highly doubt that rogue local government regulators are roaming Florida, coming down like a ton of unjust bricks on the head of poor, persecuted developers.

But you might be tempted to think that after getting a glimpse at House Bill 105, filed last week by Rep. Robert Brackett, R-34.

The bill, titled “Local Government Actions,” proposes that any person or business that is the subject of a local government “enforcement action” thought to be “arbitrary or unreasonable: can appeal that determination. The local government has 30 days to review the case and issue a written response. If local officials miss that deadline, the person or company cited can sue. And if they win, they can be awarded up to $50,000, plus court/attorney fees.

So what constitutes an “arbitrary or unreasonable” enforcement action? The legislation doesn’t specify, other than saying that it would be determined by “a court of competent jurisdiction.” But, among the things that could get the enforcement action labeled as such is any citation that “unreasonably delays or obstructs lawful development, permitting, or other business activity.”

In other words: Forget about these “violations” and issue the building permits, Mr. Local Regulator. Or we’ll haul you into court.

This is consistent with legislation filed and passed in recent years targeting pesky citizens who dare stand in the way of the Florida development juggernaut; this bill goes after the governments. It’s clearly an attempt to intimidate local regulators and put them back on their heels, and make them reluctant to enforce the rules.

We’ll be following this bill closely this session, speaking out — and helping you do the same.

'Alligator Alcatraz' updates

Help keep the pressure on and join the “Hands Across the Land” peaceful gathering outside the Everglades detention center on Sunday, Oct. 26. The event will feature speakers, music and an interfaith prayer vigil beginning at 5 p.m.

NEW LAWSUIT: our friends at Friends of the Everglades filed a new lawsuit Oct. 14 against the state of Florida, seeking public records which will “shine a light on the agencies and decision-makers behind this secretive project that has caused irreparable harm to the Everglades.”

In a statement, Friends said ”the state and federal defendants have repeatedly tried to deny the clear role of the federal government, therefore arguing the project didn’t have to comply with federal law. They have failed to produce public records sought by Friends of the Everglades related to federal support at Alligator Alcatraz.”

“The Everglades belong to everyone — and the public has a right to know what’s happening to them.”

Because our waters depend on it

Clean water starts at the ballot box. Voting for clean-water candidates means choosing leaders who will protect these precious resources, not exploit them.

And by supporting VoteWater, you help shine a light on where candidates really stand, hold them accountable, and build the political will to finally fix Florida’s water crisis. Please chip in today and help us make a difference.

Become a WaveMaker!