With over 5,000 individual donors and 99.4% of contributions coming in under $100, the Ormond Beach Democrat says the numbers show a grassroots campaign gaining early traction ahead of the 2026 primary.
Eric Yonce, a candidate for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, announced that his campaign raised $128,327 in the first quarter of 2026. According to the campaign, the funds came almost entirely from small-dollar donors — individuals who gave less than $100 — with that group accounting for 99.4% of all contributions received.
The campaign’s message on fundraising
Yonce framed the fundraising results as a reflection of where his financial support is coming from — individual community members rather than large political donors or outside groups.
“This campaign isn’t powered by corporate PACs or special interests — it’s powered by people. Over five thousand individuals stepped up this early on because they believe in building a government that actually works for them.”
— Eric Yonce, candidate for Florida’s 6th Congressional District
“Our message of accountability and affordability is resonating. Folks are tired of being ignored, and they’re ready for leadership that reflects their values, their struggles, and their hopes for the future.”
— Eric Yonce
Petition strategy: staying in the district
Beyond fundraising, the campaign highlighted its approach to collecting the candidate petitions required to qualify for the ballot. Although Yonce is legally permitted to collect signatures from anywhere in the state, the campaign reports that 93.7% of petitions collected so far have come from within the 6th District itself. Roughly 6% have come from Brevard County, where the campaign says it has found an unexpected base of volunteers and donors.
Yonce said his campaign has now raised enough money to simply pay the fee to secure a spot on the ballot — a common alternative to collecting petitions — but has chosen to continue the petition process anyway as a way of staying engaged with voters.
“Supporters have now enabled me to buy my way onto the ballot, but I feel like their donations are better spent on more outreach. And I think a candidate should be enthusiastic about the opportunity to connect with the community and building a connection as part of the process.”
— Eric Yonce
He also noted that while he supports ending Citizens United — the Supreme Court ruling that lifted many limits on political spending — he acknowledged that fundraising remains necessary to reach voters across what he described as a large and geographically spread-out district. “Donations of time and energy are just as important as financial contributions,” he said.
What comes next
The campaign says it plans to expand outreach, grow its volunteer network, and continue engaging voters across Florida’s 6th Congressional District heading into the next quarter. Florida’s 6th District primary is scheduled for August 18, 2026. No other candidates in the race were referenced in the campaign’s announcement.
