Rick Scott spent more than $63.5 million of own money on Senate race
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Rick Scott spent $63.5 million of his own money in his successful Senate campaign this year – a record amount.
Scott’s contribution accounts for about 76 percent of the more than $83.7 million his campaign accrued overall, according to FEC data.
Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, narrowly beat out Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in the Senate this year after a recount in the expensive race. His victory marked the first time in more than a century that the Sunshine State has two Republican senators representing it in Washington.
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Overall, Scott has spent more than $150 million on his three campaigns (2018 Senate, 2014 gubernatorial and 2010 gubernatorial), Politico reported. And the exorbitant financing of the recent Senate campaign was a record amount.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to win this election,” Scott said in April when asked about how much of his own money he’d use in the campaign.
FLORIDA GOV. SCOTT’S FIGHT WITH ELECTION CHIEF BRENDA SNIPES HEATS UP, AS REPLACEMENT INSTALLED
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The fact that Scott’s massive self-financing boded well for him is unusual. About 80 percent of self-funded candidates end up losing their races, according to USA Today.
Before he was governor, Scott, 66, was the CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. He also worked as a venture capitalist.
Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report.