| SEEDS OF VICTORY | |
| Lawmakers passed two major pieces of legislation in last year's regular session. One delayed the cleanup of the Everglades, the other raised telephone rates for residential customers. Since 1996, sugar and telecommunications companies contributed more than $60-million to Florida candidates, the parties and advertising campaigns. | |
| Sugar contributions | |
| U.S. Sugar | |
| total contributed | $12,660,725 |
| to Republican party | $502,603 |
| to Democratic party | $111,350 |
| Flo-Sun Sugar Inc. | |
| total contributed | $ 8,929,971 |
| to Republican party | $154,986 |
| to Democratic party | $48,000 |
| Florida Crystals | |
| total contributed | $700,000 |
| to Republican party | $308,261 |
| to Democratic party | $121,356 |
| Southern Gardens | |
| total contributed | $475,449 |
| to Republican party | $37,000 |
| to Democratic party | $7,500 |
| Sugar Cane Growers | |
| total contributed | $ 3,980,330 |
| to Republican party | $28,750 |
| to Democratic party | $11,550 |
| Citizens to Save Jobs | |
| Everglades advertising and direct mail | $20,231,431 |
| Sugar companies combined | |
| total contributed | $46,977,906 |
| to Republican party | $ 1,031,600 |
| to Democratic party | $ 299,756 |
| Telecommunications contributions | |
| BellSouth | |
| total contributed | $ 3,644,219 |
| to Republican party | $ 1,014,305 |
| to Democratic party | $ 418,878 |
| Sprint | |
| total contributed | $ 1,824,118 |
| to Republican party | $ 813,232 |
| to Democratic party | $ 457,050 |
| Verizon/GTE | |
| total contributed | $ 1,187,797 |
| to Republican party | $ 649,717 |
| to Democratic party | $ 183,423 |
| Florida Cable Television | |
| total contributed | $ 558,402 |
| to Republican party | $ 180,412 |
| to Democratic party | $ 23,500 |
| AT&T | |
| total contributed | $ 2,928,119 |
| to Republican party | $ 1,034,855 |
| to Democratic party | $ 580,848 |
| Committee for Fair Competition in Telecommunications | |
| total contributed | $ 388,500 |
| to Republican party | $ 37,000 |
| to Democratic party | $ 154,250 |
| Coalition for Competition | |
| total contributed | $ 2,990,384 |
| Telecommunications companies combined | |
| total contributed | $13,521,539 |
| to Republican party | $ 3,729,521 |
| to Democratic party | $ 1,817,949 |
| Source: Division of Elections | |