Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war chest is almost bottomless.

And it’s padded with donations from officials he appointed to positions throughout the state.

While it’s common for governors to stack commissions, boards and task forces with their supporters, DeSantis has done so at a significantly higher rate than his predecessor, according to an analysis of campaign contributions and political appointments.

Since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles — a 75% increase in the number of donors appointed compared to former Gov. Rick Scott’s first term in office, and over 10 times the amount of money.

So far, DeSantis has raked in about $189 million to his campaign and PAC ahead of next month’s election.

“There’s nothing Ron DeSantis won’t do to line his coffers — including selling state appointments for contributions to his campaign,” Drew Godinich, a spokesperson for American Bridge, wrote in an email.

DeSantis’ office didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.

Donor-appointees

At the top of the list of donor-appointees are Craig Mateer and Keith Wold, who gave $400,000 and $300,000, respectively, to Friends of Ron DeSantis.

Mateer, a hospitality, logistics, and real estate businessman, previously served on the Florida State University Board of Trustees, and he was appointed to the Board of Governors of the State University System in March after he contributed $200,000 in February 2020 and $100,000 in May 2021. He gave another $100,000 in June 2022.

Wold donated to the governor in 2018 and was appointed to the Government Efficiency Task Force in August 2019.