The group of more than a dozen Yale alumni, known internally as “Fight Club,” has so far raised about $5.5 million for DeSantis from their contacts, according to the campaign. They meet weekly for 45 minutes to discuss strategy and fundraising. DeSantis, who graduated from Yale in 2001, participates in the conference call about once a month.
Michael McClellanA partner at the Newmeyer Dillion law firm and one of DeSantis’s Yale classmates organized the group back in March, months before the governor officially launched his presidential campaign, and launched campaigns in June and September Led several fundraising campaigns in California. McClellan said it raised more than $1 million from those events.
“Fight Club” is the DeSantis network’s interpretation of what is known as bondage in politics. Wealthy and well-connected supporters who are willing to recruit friends to donate are known as “bundlers,” and they are critical to many candidates’ fundraising efforts.
Federal campaign contribution rules limit individuals to $6,600 in donations to candidates. Bundling several small donations from multiple people into a larger gift gives donors more opportunity to reach candidates.
“The best part is seeing our college classmates and teammates raising funds and receiving more and more support from their networks across the country, especially those who have never been involved in politics before,” McClellan said. ”
cash in hand
DeSantis campaign Troubled Due to funding issues over the past few months.As of the end of September, the event had approximately US$5 million Primary funding lags far behind what former President Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley have amassed. DeSantis campaign officials said the governor has raised an additional $1 million since early October.
DeSantis also failed to make any significant progress with Trump’s support. lead in the polls. But Sudha Reddy, founder and managing principal of Haven Realty Capital, said the alumni group’s focus is on ensuring campaigns continue to have money flowing in, not on polls.
“Unlike other people who might be swayed by the polls or waiting for something, this doesn’t really affect us,” said Reddy, one of DeSantis’ fraternity brothers and teammates on the baseball team.
Yale alumni will continue to assist with additional fundraisers this fall. There is already a debate on the calendar in Miami at the end of October, followed by a third Republican debate in the same city on November 8.
“Some of my closest friends I’ve known for 20, 25 years have worked really hard to raise money for me,” DeSantis said in an October interview with Fox News. “I mean, it’s really, really cool that the guys I played baseball with in college are now here.”
other investors
Other members of the fight club include Nick Sinatra, the governor’s fraternity brother, founder and CEO of real estate firm Sinatra and Co., and former George W. Bush Government official who helped organize events in New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Fraternity brother Tom Gioia, a private equity investor at Hemlock Partners, plans to host a cocktail party for other wealthy investors in early October.
Matthew Schmidt is a member of the group and also brewery An event was held in Milwaukee following the first presidential debate in August. Schmidt said he always voted, but before DeSantis, he questioned whether donating to political candidates would actually make a difference.
“It’s easy for me to have conversations with other people who haven’t donated before,” Schmidt said. “I can tell them ‘Hey, it’s not scary, don’t worry. This is a great campaign and you’re doing something that can help the country.'”
Svlook
