DeSantis’ ‘Freedom Fund’ Targets Abortion and Cannabis Amendments on Florida Ballot

NEW YORK- Gov. Ron DeSantis has launched a new political committee to target a pair of ballot initiatives on abortion access and legalizing cannabis in Florida. The committee, named the Florida Freedom Fund, was quietly launched late last month with James Uthmeier, the governor’s chief of staff, serving as its official chair.

The creation of the committee comes as DeSantis attempts to reassert control over his home state following his unsuccessful presidential bid. It underscores that DeSantis’ primary political goal for the 2024 election is to defeat the amendments, both of which have already raised millions of dollars.

A source familiar with DeSantis’ plans indicated that the political committee would not only target the two amendments but also get involved in school board races. “As Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to lead our great state, the Florida Freedom Fund will be championing issues and candidates committed to preserving Floridians’ freedom,” said Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for the governor. “From up and down ballot races to critical amendments, we’re steadfast in our mission to keep Florida free.”

DeSantis has also pledged to raise money for former President Donald Trump and is planning fundraising trips to other states as part of that effort. However, he has stated that he does not anticipate doing much campaigning for Trump in Florida, contending that the state will not be competitive for Democrats. A Fox News poll released late last week showed Trump leading President Joe Biden by only four points in a head-to-head matchup, just beyond the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.

The same poll indicated that the two amendments were poised to pass, with 69 percent of registered voters supporting the abortion access measure and 66 percent supporting the cannabis initiative. Florida initiatives require a 60 percent yes vote to pass.

DeSantis has criticized both initiatives as “radical” and “extreme,” predicting that voters would ultimately reject them. However, there has yet to be organized opposition to either ballot measure, something DeSantis’ new political committee aims to change. Smart & Safe Florida, the organization bankrolled by Florida’s largest medical cannabis company and sponsoring the cannabis initiative, has already begun running television ads urging voters to vote yes. According to AdImpact, the organization spent nearly $3.8 million on ads in May and June.

DeSantis shut down his previous state political committee before his presidential campaign, transferring more than $80 million to Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting his run. He ended his presidential campaign after a distant second-place finish to Trump in the Iowa caucuses.

Many in DeSantis’ circle expect him to launch another run for president in 2028, two years after he will leave office due to term limits. The passage of the two amendments could be seen as voters rejecting part of the “Florida blueprint” he has promoted on the campaign trail.

Before his presidential run, DeSantis signed a measure banning abortion in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. This law took effect in May following a legal challenge before the Florida Supreme Court. The abortion access amendment would guarantee abortion up to the point of viability, generally around 24 weeks.

Ahead of the 2022 elections, DeSantis supported non-partisan school board races, endorsing candidates and directing financial support in multiple races to reshape counties like Miami-Dade and Sarasota. He, along with Republican leaders and the group Moms for Liberty, targeted over a dozen school board races for this election cycle.

In the ongoing battle over Florida’s constitutional amendments to legalize recreational cannabis and access to abortion, DeSantis faces a significant fundraising disadvantage. His Florida Freedom Fund raised only $10,000 by June 21, compared to the over $60 million raised by Smart & Safe Florida, according to campaign filings. Florida-based Trulieve has reportedly spent more than $40 million to get the cannabis measure on the ballot.

DeSantis has criticized the cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, as a gateway to turning Florida into cities like San Francisco or Chicago. He warned that, if legalized, cannabis could be used openly in public places. “We already have medical cannabis, it’s out there. But we got to keep our streets clean, we cannot have every town smelling like cannabis,” DeSantis said.

A Fox News poll showed that 69 percent of Floridians support the abortion-access initiative and 66 percent favor legalizing adult-use cannabis. At a roundtable in mid-June, Safe & Smart quoted economists who estimate that legalizing cannabis could generate between $195 million and $431 million annually in sales tax revenue, providing a significant boost to the state’s economy. Other states with legal cannabis are generating up to $20 billion in tax revenue.

The upcoming November 2024 elections will determine the fate of these amendments and the political landscape in Florida.