Rep. Brian Mast, Lauren Baer raking in outside donations from high-profile donors

Treasure Coast congressional candidates Brian Mast and Lauren Baer are raking in several high-profile campaign donations, according to first-quarter finance records.

Since Jan. 1, incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, received nearly $888,000 while Democratic challenger Lauren Baer, a former foreign policy adviser in the Obama administration, received more than $450,000, according to Federal Elections Commission records released this week.

Not surprisingly, both candidates received donations from their respective party leaders: Republicans who want to keep District 18 red and Democrats who want to turn it blue. Both also received donations from prominent business leaders who support their party's policies.

Where they differ is on donations from prominent corporations. Mast is accepting them while Baer signed a pledge to not accept them. She and other Democrats say they lead to special interests having too much power over politicians.

Baer, a scion of the South Florida namesake furniture empire, also counts wealthy activists among her donors.

Brian Mast

Republican politicians and donors include:

$13,500: PACs affiliated with five Republican House members

PACs affiliated with five Republican House members $5,000: House Speaker Paul Ryan's PAC, Prosperity Action Inc.

House Speaker Paul Ryan's PAC, Prosperity Action Inc. $2,700: Vice President Mike Pence's PAC, Great America Committee

Vice President Mike Pence's PAC, Great America Committee $2,000: Republican Main Street Partnership PAC, associated with a group of centrist Republicans in Congress

Republican Main Street Partnership PAC, associated with a group of centrist Republicans in Congress $2,000: Former Rep. Mark Foley's PAC. The former Treasure Coast congressman resigned in 2006 after sending sexually explicit text messages to underage pages.

Former Rep. Mark Foley's PAC. The former Treasure Coast congressman resigned in 2006 after sending sexually explicit text messages to underage pages. $1,500: Former Speaker John Boehner's PAC, The Freedom Project

Business interests include:

$2,700: Robert Mercer, a Republican mega-donor and tech adviser

Robert Mercer, a Republican mega-donor and tech adviser $2,700: Charles Schwab, founder of financial services firm Charles Schwab Corp.

Charles Schwab, founder of financial services firm Charles Schwab Corp. $2,700: Jim Stephenson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice chair and CEO of Georgia-based construction equipment business Yancey Bros.

Jim Stephenson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice chair and CEO of Georgia-based construction equipment business Yancey Bros. $500: Jonathan Hage, CEO of Charter Schools USA, which manages two St. Lucie County charter schools: Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie and Renaissance Charter School at Tradition

Corporate PACs include:

$2,000: Walmart's PAC

Walmart's PAC $2,000: Bloomin' Brands, the chain that owns Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill

Bloomin' Brands, the chain that owns Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill $2,000: Defense contractor Harris Corp.

Defense contractor Harris Corp. $1,000: JPMorgan Chase bank's PAC

JPMorgan Chase bank's PAC $1,000: JetBlue airlines' corporate PAC

JetBlue airlines' corporate PAC $1,000: Chevron gas station's employees' PAC

Chevron gas station's employees' PAC $1,000: Duke Energy's PAC

Lauren Baer

Baer is endorsed by Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Boca Raton, and Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach.

Democratic politicians and donors include:

$24,500: 15 Democrats in Congress

15 Democrats in Congress $7,000: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's PAC and campaign account

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's PAC and campaign account $2,000: New Democrat Coalition PAC, associated with a group of moderate Democrats in Congress

New Democrat Coalition PAC, associated with a group of moderate Democrats in Congress $1,000: PAC of Rep. Adam Schiff's, D-Calif., top Democrat on House Intel Committee

Business interests include:

$2,700: Tom Steyer, billionaire Democratic activist and founder of Next Gen America, a massive environmental advocacy nonprofit

Tom Steyer, billionaire Democratic activist and founder of Next Gen America, a massive environmental advocacy nonprofit $2,700: Jeffrey Seller, who produced "Hamilton" and "Rent" on Broadway

Jeffrey Seller, who produced "Hamilton" and "Rent" on Broadway $500: Tony Blinken, former Obama deputy secretary of state

Tony Blinken, former Obama deputy secretary of state $500: Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb

Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb $250: Hal Prince, a Broadway director/producer behind the original productions of "Evita" and "The Phantom of the Opera"

Fierce competition

The donations could signal the start of one of the nation's most competitive and expensive midterm elections this fall.

District 18 — representing Martin, St. Lucie and northern Palm Beach counties — is one of several swing districts Democrats hope to flip in November.

Nonpartisan political analysts, including Cook Political Report, InsideElections and Sabato's Crystal Ball, predict Mast will keep his seat, but the race could be close.

Democratic candidate Pam Keith, a Palm Beach Gardens attorney, raised about $105,000 in the first quarter.

Republican candidates Mark Freeman and Dave Cummings did not report any campaign contributions from donors outside the district during the first quarter.