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Which Florida Republican candidates are getting Trump money?

There are five of them. And they're not who you might expect.
 
Published July 31, 2018|Updated Aug. 1, 2018

Former St. Petersburg Times staff writer Anita Kumar wrote a scoop today for McClatchey: Which GOP candidates are getting Trump re-election campaign money to win their races?

According to a list of favored candidates, a few of them are from Florida.

Of the 101 national candidates on the list, one of the most surprising  is U.S. Rep. Curtis Curbelo of Miami, who have been a critic of Trump, from criticizing the president's  "a–hole countries" remark from earlier in the year, to going alone on a plan granting citizenship to so-called Dreamers opposed by the White House  to his strong objections to Trump's meeting with Vladamir Putin in mid-July.

But Democrats are considered plausible bets on taking over the U.S. House in November, and Curbelo's district is considered one that is likely to change hands.

Other Florida Republicans are hardly surprises: U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, who is in a suddenly competitive race to hold on to his Sarasota seat, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Miami, who is considered the probable winner in November, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Palm City, who is facing a slightly competitive reelection battle, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who is trying to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson.

A spokeswoman for Scott's Senate campaign , Lauren Schenone, said that Trump not contributed the money yet.

Not on the list? U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who is trying to become Florida's next governor. Trump was in Tampa on Tuesday to stump for DeSantis.

Read Kumar's story here.