In a battle with the state over whether to expand abortion rights, the political committee supporting Amendment 4 continues to reach new heights in donations.

Floridians Protect Liberty (FPF) raised about $17.2 million in one week, the group reported Oct. 5-11. campaign finance report. FPF also spent approximately $14.3 million during the same week.

The weekly fundraising figures were boosted by three multimillion-dollar donations, although the majority of donors gave small amounts. More than 3,100 people gave $100 or less.

The new venture capital fund – the largest donor – gave about $9.5 million, followed by $5 million from The Equity Project and approximately $2.3 million from Hopewell Fund.

The three nonprofits are based in Washington, D.C., and invest in health care, public policy and other issues.

FPF has raised about $90 million from about 40,000 donors throughout the campaign to enshrine abortion rights protections in the state constitution. The Nov. 5 ballot initiative requires at least 60% of the vote to pass amid an increasingly hostile campaign.

During the same period, Governor Ron DeSantis’ Florida Freedom Fund — which is raising money to oppose Amendments 4 and 3, the latter legalizing recreational marijuana — raised about $340,000 through six donations between Oct. 5 and 11. The DeSantis PAC’s biggest donors were the tobacco company. Philip Morris Internationalwith $300,000, followed by credit card company Visa with a $25,000 donation.

Florida Voters Against Extremismanother group opposing Amendment 4, raised nearly $270,000 from 31 donors during the period, including $250,000 from the Knights of Columbusa Catholic fraternal organization.

But DeSantis, who personally opposes Amendment 4, has found a much more important war chest to fight against the defenders of reproductive freedom: that of the state.

DeSantis is using state resources to oppose Amendment 4. The latest battleground has been on the airwaves. The Ministry of Health sent cease and desist letters This month, he threatened criminal charges against TV stations that aired TV ads in favor of Amendment 4. A Fort Myers TV station complied and removed the ads in favor of the amendment, although that these advertisements are now back on television. FPF said earlier last week.

A federal judge ruled in favor of FPF’s First Amendment lawsuit And obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent the state from interfering with television channels.

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