The failed campaign and expansive political operation aiming to make Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis the Republican nominee for the White House cost $168 million, according to filings reported to the Federal Election Commission late Wednesday.
That calculates to just over $7,173 for each of the 23,420 Iowa caucus votes DeSantis received before dropping out of the race.
The pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down reported payments of more than $130.6 million in 2023 while a newer super PAC Fight Right reported $9.6 million between mid-November and December. His own campaign spent $28.3 million from May to December.
DeSantis relied on support from outside groups more than any other major candidate since a U.S. Supreme Court 2010 ruling paved the way for super PACs. These political action committees can raise unlimited amounts of money without disclosing their donors. Still, federal law prohibits candidates and their formal campaigns from coordinating directly with super PACs.
DeSantis ended his campaign last month after losing to former President Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses by 30 points.
He had launched his campaign with high expectations as a high-profile governor who had amassed with his allies more than $130 million and had a record for taking on conservative issues such as pro-life values, critical race theory, and transgender topics in public schools.
But he struggled in the primary starting with a glitchy campaign launch on Twitter Spaces and financial pressures and staffing shakeups.
Never Back Down orchestrated much of the on-the ground-work for DeSantis. It received more than $80 million from a committee backing his successful 2022 gubernatorial reelection.
Meanwhile, Fight Right was created by DeSantis’ Florida allies for TV advertising. It paid for ads to attack former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is still running against Trump.
The Associated Press contributed to this article