Pensacola Republican Rep. Frank White is nearing $2 million cash on hand after bringing in $109,557 between his campaign and committee accounts last month. White added $62,500 of that cash through his political committee, United Conservatives, with another $47,000 coming in through his campaign account. The committee money included a $50,000 contribution from Sansing Holdings, a business tied to Pensacola auto dealer Sandy Sansing. Also chipping in was pharmaceutical company Phizer, which gave $5,000, followed by the Committee of Florida Agents, Bayard Timberland and J.R. Advertising at $2,500 a piece. The campaign cash came in across 55 contributions, including a half dozen for $3,000 the maximum contribution for statewide campaigns. Max donors included Mark and Tetiana Pieloch, political committee 1845, fuel distribution company Sunshine Dade Investments and lobbyist Ron Book. White spent about $53,000 in January, leaving him with $1.98 million on hand between the two accounts at the end of the month. That sum includes a $1.5 million self contribution White used to kickstart his campaign last year. January spending mainly went toward a handful of consulting contracts, including $16,750 in payments to Acquire Digital, $10,000 to the Archmann Group, $5,000 to Erin Isaac, $3,800 to Data Targeting and $2,000 to Tricia Murray. White is running against former circuit court judge Ashley Moody and fellow state Reps. Jay Fant and Ross Spano in the Republican primary for Attorney General. Competing for the Democratic nomination are Tampa Rep. Sean Shaw and Ryan Torrens. Neither Fant nor Moody had reported their January numbers by Monday afternoon. Spano, the most recent GOP filer, added $28,425 last month and has about $70,000 on hand.

Frank White   State Rep. and Attorney General hopeful Frank White rolled out two new endorsements in his bid for the Florida Cabinet on Thursday. Two county sheriffs announced their support for the Pensacola Republican, saying he’s the best bet to lead the legal system in the Sunshine State. “I am proud to stand with Frank White because I know he will stand with Florida’s men and women in blue to enforce the rule of law,” said St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar. “Frank has proven he will defend our conservative values and protect taxpayers’ hard-earned money.” Shoar has a lengthy career in law enforcement, serving in the field for over 30 years. He was first elected to the office in 2004 and wasn’t the only law enforcement professional to give his stamp of approval to White.  “Frank will be a staunch defender of our Second Amendment rights, will help law enforcement keep our families safe and will protect the constitution at all times,” said Putnam County Sheriff Homer Deloach. Deloach was elected sheriff in 2016 but has been with the department since 2001.  White jumped into the Republican field for the job late last year but has already showed he’s serious about the race, already putting $1.5 million of his own money into his campaign.  He is currently matched up against fellow state Reps. Jay Fant and Ross Spano for Republican nomination as well as former Hillsborough County judge Ashley Moody. White surpassed the $2 million fundraising mark at the end of 2017, raising over $100,000 for his campaign in December. White’s Republican opponents Jay Fant and Ashley Moody have both raised over $1 million for their campaigns but haven’t yet reached the $2 million mark. State Rep. Ross Spano has $99,000 in his campaign and committee accounts.  Tampa lawyer Ryan Torrens entered the Democratic race for the Attorney General nomination in June. Rep. Sean Shaw, D-Tampa, announced he'd also be running for the job as a Democrat last month.  Recent polling suggests the race is anyone’s game at this point, with no clear frontrunner among the candidates, but White’s financial situation puts him in a strong position to make a mark in the crowded field. White says his ability to connect with voters from all walks of life will be another boon to his AG bid and thanked the sheriffs for their endorsements on Thursday.  “As momentum grows for our campaign, my proven record as a consistent conservative is resonating with folks from across the state and I am honored to have the support of these great Sheriffs who share my conservative values and commitment to both our constitution and the rule of law,” he said. 

Rancor between Republican candidates for Florida attorney general was on full display Saturday during a forum held by The Federalist Society at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort. Ashley Moody, a former Hillsborough County judge who has been endorsed by term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi, called out Rep. Jay Fant, R-Jacksonville, for political-committee mailers painting her a “liberal,” which she called “misleading,” and “unworthy of the office.” Fant replied to Moody that “issues matter, and just because the issues make you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean you’re being attacked.” “These campaigns get difficult, they won’t get easier from here when the grass roots gets out there,” he said, adding she supported Democrat Bill McBride over Republican Jeb Bush in the 2002 gubernatorial election, and her family was involved in a 2009 lawsuit against President Donald Trump. The Moodys were among 54 plaintiffs who claimed “negligent misrepresentations” by Trump and the Trump Organization about investments in a development along the Hillsborough River that never got built. The case was settled with a secret agreement. Meanwhile, Rep. Ross Spano, a Dover Republican, showed Saturday he’s going to use courtroom experience to distinguish himself from two of the four Republicans running for the office: Fant and Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola. Spano, in a question to Fant, noted that he’s litigated “well over 500 cases.” Fant and White both pointed to their executive leadership positions. “This is the attorney general position, not the solicitor position,” replied Fant, an attorney who works for his family-owned financial-service companies. White, when asked by Moody if he’s ever served as a lead counsel who’s brought a case to verdict, replied there are “many paths to be an effective attorney general.” White, whose political committee United Conservatives has sent a mailer calling Moody a “liberal judge” for having once registered as a Democrat, questioned her stance on Second Amendment rights involving private property, including college campuses. Moody, who abandoned her Democratic affiliation by 1999 when she was appointed a student representative on the Florida university system Board of Regents, replied that “people have a natural right to defend themselves,” while not directly addressing private property. The Republicans will battle in an Aug. 28 primary, with the winner moving on to the Nov. 6 general election. Two Democrats — state Rep. Sean Shaw of Tampa and Hillsborough County attorney Ryan Torrens — are running. The exchanges between White and Moody weren’t as sharp as her banter with Fant. Such exchanges were able to occur due to the event format. The Federalist Society initially gave each of the four GOP candidates and Torrens a chance to introduce themselves and explain differences on issues. Shaw did not attend.