ORLANDO, Fla. — When state investigators delved into the finances of several entities tied to Florida’s 2020 “ghost” candidate scandal, they unearthed major cash contributions from some of the state’s biggest business interests, including an affiliate of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
That entity, dubbed Secure Florida’s Future, contributed $630,000 late in the 2020 election cycle to a network of dark-money groups since subpoenaed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Bank records unearthed by the probe were obtained by the Orlando Sentinel this week.
The investigation emerged from reporting by the Sentinel and other news outlets on three independent “ghost” candidates who ran for three Florida Senate seats in 2020 and were promoted by an advertising blitz apparently meant to help Republicans win those races.
