**UPDATED**

We goofed! There’s even more Big Sugar campaign cash out there than we thought!

Due to a glitch in the search process, we underreported — by more than $1 million! — the amount of money given by Florida Crystals to Florida politicians and political action committees during the current election cycle.

In fact, Florida Crystals Corp. has shelled out $1.1 million this election cycle, along with another $130,000 from two Florida Crystals subsidiaries, Okeelanta Corp. and Stofin Co.

The Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative gave another $42,650.

And these amounts were dwarfed by the $4 million given by U.S. Sugar this cycle to candidates and PACs. 

All told, the sugar industry has doled out nearly $5.3 million – with more than three months yet to go.

The biggest individual recipient of this largesse: Bartow Sen. Ben Albritton (R-27), the incoming Senate President. His two political action committees, Advancing Florida Agriculture and Friends of Ben Albritton, have together raked in $210,000.

The vast majority of the sugar cash, however, went to political action committees.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce PAC has gotten $2.1 million so far during the 2024 cycle. Another $625,000 has gone to the Florida Jobs PAC, along with $325,000 to the Florida Chamber of Commerce Alliance PAC and $300,000 to the Associated Industries of Florida PAC.

Big Sugar sources have given the Republican Party of Florida $418,645; the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee got another $200,000. The Democrats have gotten far less — $25,000 to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign, and $15,000 to the Florida Democratic Party.

Nonetheless, at least 19 Democratic candidates or their PACs have gotten sugar donations this cycle. Many — though not all — represent Palm Beach or Broward counties, near the sugarcane fields of the Everglades Agricultural Area.

Other candidates/elected officials who got big sugar money:

• Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, whose two PACs (Keep Florida Free and Treasure Florida) got a combined $130,000.
• Attorney General Ashley Moody, whose two PACs (Protect Florida and Friends of Ashley Moody) took in $125,000.
• Agriculture Secretary Wilton Simpson, whose Friends of Wilton Simpson got $100,000.
• Rep. Paul Renner (R-19), outgoing Speaker of the House, whose PAC Conservatives for Principled Leadership got $100,000.

Several other legislators got upwards of $30,000 counting campaign donations and money to their PACs.

All told, more than 60 incumbent legislators got Big Sugar money, as did five candidates, all Republicans, running for legislative seats.

Donations also went to PACs associated with several former legislators, Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban and Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.

The industry’s ability to spread its money around to so many different lawmakers and PACs allows it to have a broader impact. Many legislators who got sugar money represent districts far from the industry’s home in South Florida – but hold key positions on important committees where legislation affecting the industry may be heard.

The campaign cash ensures those legislators will give a “fair hearing” to the industry’s side — as always.

And if you think our elected officials have been TOO “fair” to Big Sugar — well, there’s an election coming up, isn’t there?

For more details, see the listing below.