The majority of the more than $16 million raised for two long-shot Florida Democratic House candidates came from passionate, desperate donors across the country, who were hopeful that a miracle could narrow Speaker Mike Johnson’s slim majority and stop Donald Trump.
“Two special elections on April 1st could end Trump’s control of Congress,” one $300,000 Facebook ad buy from Democrat Josh Weil’s campaign said. The largest audience for that ad was in California, according to Facebook records.
The fundraising message — however improbable it actually was for the ruby red districts — worked. Millions of small dollar donations poured in from across the country. Just 8% of the donors for the two Democratic candidates were from Florida, campaign finance records show.