Rick Scott spent more than $63.5 million of own money on Senate race

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Republicans win Florida Senate, governor races

Three-term Democratic Senator Bill Nelson called Republican Rick Scott to concede just minutes after official recount results were posted; Peter Doocy reports from Tallahassee.

Rick Scott spent $63.5 million of his own money in his successful Senate campaign this year – a record amount.

Scott’s contribution accounts for about 76 percent of the more than $83.7 million his campaign accrued overall, according to FEC data.

Scott, Florida’s GOP governor, narrowly beat out Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in the Senate this year after a recount in the expensive race. His victory marked the first time in more than a century that the Sunshine State has two Republican senators representing it in Washington.

Overall, Scott has spent more than $150 million on his three campaigns (2018 Senate, 2014 gubernatorial and 2010 gubernatorial), Politico reported. And the exorbitant financing of the recent Senate campaign was a record amount.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to win this election,” Scott said in April when asked about how much of his own money he’d use in the campaign.

The fact that Scott’s massive self-financing boded well for him is unusual. About 80 percent of self-funded candidates end up losing their races, according to USA Today.

Before he was governor, Scott, 66, was the CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. He also worked as a venture capitalist.

Fox News' Barnini Chakraborty contributed to this report.

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