Former Rep. David Silvers, a Democrat running to represent Senate District 26 in Palm Beach County, added $56,500 to his campaign coffers in his first full quarter as a candidate.
His Republican opponent, former Rep. Rick Roth, collected $11,700 during the same time period — about five times less.
Silvers’ biggest gain, a $40,000 check, came from Citizens for Law Order and Ethics, a political committee chaired by the man who also runs his PC, Rick Asnani.
NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power and Light, gave $5,000. EC-PAC[1], a PC chaired by West Palm Beach construction executive Allen Gast, donated $1,000. Associated Industries of Florida chipped in $500.
Silvers received five personal checks between July 1 and Sept. 30. The largest was for $5,000 and came from James McManus, the founder of Palm Beach Gardens-based Family First Adolescent Services, a substance abuse treatment company.
Miami financial adviser Forrest Nail gave $2,000. Lawyers Alex Havenick, Joseph Salzverg and Josh Spoont gave $1,000 apiece.
Silvers spent about $24,800 last quarter, leaving about $204,000 between his campaign account[2] and political committee, Friends of David Silvers[3], by Oct. 1. All but $300 went to Asnani’s firm, Cornerstone Solutions for media consulting and event expenses. The rest covered legal services and donation processing fees.
Roth’s fundraising leaned heavily on personal checks — he received 18 ranging from $50 to $500 — and the agriculture industry.
Roth runs an eponymous farm operation in Belle Glade.
Bradenton-based Strickland Ranch, Clewiston-based Hilliard Farm and Blackbeards Ranch in St. Petersburg each contributed $1,000. Jones Potato Farm in Parrish gave $500. Blue Sky Farm in Hastings chipped in $200.
Roth’s biggest donation in Q3 was a $2,500 check from FAPSC PAC[4], the political arm of the Florida Association of Postsecondary Schools and Colleges.
He spent $99 last quarter, leaving about $126,000 between his campaign account[5] and political committee, Palm Beach Prosperity Fund[6].
A third of his spending covered stamps. The rest went to donation processing fees.
The race for SD 26 featured three candidates until August, when Democratic Boca Raton City Council member Yvette Drucker dropped out of the race to run for Palm Beach County Clerk[7].
SD 26[8] covers a southern portion of Palm Beach County, spanning the inland municipalities of Belle Glade, Golf, South Bay and Wellington; coastal Briny Breezes, Delray Beach, Highland Beach and Ocean Ridge; and a northern part of Boca Raton.
The district’s current representative, Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman, must leave office next year due to term limits.
The 2026 Primary is Aug. 18, followed by the General Election on Nov. 3.
Candidates faced a Friday deadline to report all campaign finance activity through Sept. 30.
References
- ^ EC-PAC (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ campaign account (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ Friends of David Silvers (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ FAPSC PAC (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ campaign account (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ Palm Beach Prosperity Fund (dos.elections.myflorida.com)
- ^ run for Palm Beach County Clerk (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ SD 26 (www.flsenate.gov)