Demings out-raises and outspends Rubio but still trails in Florida’s US Senate race

U.S. Rep. Val Demings continues to out-raise incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, according to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission on Saturday.

But even as she has out-raised and outspent Rubio, polls suggest she still trails in the race as Election Day approaches.

Demings raked in more than $17 million to her campaign from July 1 to Sep. 30, bringing her fundraising totals to about $65 million. In the same period, the Rubio campaign raised about $7 million, boosting his coffers to over $44 million.

Demings also spent significantly more than Rubio, leaving her with about $6 million in cash on hand compared to roughly $9 million still in Rubio’s reserves.

Despite Demings’ fundraising edge and spending, Rubio has maintained a lead in the race, according to polling.

READ MORE: Val Demings’ big TV spending may pay dividends, but she’s playing catchup with Rubio

“This election is a choice between Marco’s proven record of delivering results for Florida and Congresswoman Val Demings’ record of voting with Nancy Pelosi and for Joe Biden’s agenda 100% of the time,” Rubio’s campaign communications director, Elizabeth Gregory, wrote in a statement. “When Floridians go to the ballot box in November, they’re going to hold Demings and Democrat-controlled Washington accountable.”

Demings’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Rubio is also backed by the Florida First Project super PAC, which has raised nearly $4 million since January 2021.

READ MORE: Six burning questions for Rubio and Demings ahead of Tuesday night’s U.S. Senate debate

The super PAC joins other outside groups that collectively have spent about $5 million in support of Rubio or in opposition to Demings, according to independent expenditure reports filed with the FEC. This includes just over $3 million from the Florida First Project and about $1.3 million from the National Victory Action Fund, a conservative grassroots digital fundraising initiative.

Rubio’s independent expenditure numbers top the $1.5 million spent on behalf of Demings, though some groups are still supporting Demings. Two groups — anti-Trump PAC, The Lincoln Project, and the Service Employees International Union — each spent $50,000 last week on pro-Demings advertising.

“There’s only one person who cares about crime running for Senate and it’s Demings,” The Lincoln Project’s chief of staff, Ryan Wiggins, wrote in a statement. “Val Demings is a proven leader who tackled crime as Police Commissioner and got a reputation as a fighter while in Washington. Rubio is just another Trump sycophant using crime as a dog whistle to scare Floridians into voting for him even though he refuses to condemn Trump’s own criminal behavior.”

But many national Democrat groups have yet to dedicate a considerable amount to the Demings-Rubio race, and unlike Rubio, Demings does not have the backing of a super PAC.

Demings drew the majority of contributions to her campaign — about 53% percent — from small dollar donations, though she has attracted donations from Hollywood this period.

Comedy writer and actor Seth McFarlane donated $2,900 to the Demings campaign. She also received $2,900 from director, producer, and member of the Walt Disney family, Timothy Disney, and $5,800 from actor Rob Reiner.

Rubio garnered support from a few notable corporate-affiliated PACs, including $5,000 from the Burger King Franchisee, $5,000 from the investment company Black Rock, and $5,000 from Comcast Corporation & NBC University.