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Who’s Bankrolling Murphy and Rubio in Florida?

Goldman Sachs backs Rubio while Murphy gets help from dad's company

Florida Rep. Patrick Murphy has received help for his Senate run from his father and his father’s company. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Florida Rep. Patrick Murphy has received help for his Senate run from his father and his father’s company. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Florida’s Senate race is becoming one of the most expensive in the state’s history, with Sen. Marco Rubio raising about $20 million and his Democratic opponent Rep. Patrick Murphy raising about $11 million so far.

Those numbers are based off the most recent Federal Election Commission filings as of Sept. 30 but Murphy’s campaign said in an email that it has raised more than $15 million.

Rubio also had almost twice as much cash on hand as of Sept. 30 according to FEC documents, with $5.6 million to Murphy’s $2.8 million.

The biggest contributors to Rubio’s campaign so far are Goldman Sachs, hedge fund Elliot Management, and sugar producer Fanjul Corp.

Conversely, Murphy’s biggest donors are pro-Middle East peace group JStreetPAC, law firm Morgan & Morgan, and Coastal Construction, Murphy’s father’s company.

[Democrats Say Patrick Murphy Can Still Win — But Will He Have the Money?]

The biggest outside groups aiding Rubio are the Senate Leadership Fund, which backs GOP Senate candidates and has spent $1.5 million on his behalf, and the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, which has spent $1.3 million.

Conversely, the Senate Majority PAC, which supports Democratic Senate candidates, has spent $1 million to help Murphy, while Immigrant Voters Win PAC has spent $289,000 and the Service Employees International Union has spent $207,000.

In July, Murphy’s father, Thomas Murphy Jr., gave $1 million to the Senate Majority PAC.

The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report/Roll Call rates the race as Leans Republican.

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