Mike Haridopolos Drops Bid for U.S. Senate, Doesn't Have to Refund Contributions

​State Senate President Mike Haridopolos has given up on his run for U.S. Senate.

The ethically challenged 41-year-old sent an email to supporters early today saying that his run for Senate is conflicting with his duties in the Florida State Senate, according to Roll Call.

Haridopolos, who was kicked off a radio show at the end of May for being completely unable to answer a yes-or-no question, raised $2.6 million between January and the end of March, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and his campaign said it had raised $900,000 between then and June 30.

While it's not clear how much cash his campaign has on hand right now, Haridopolos spent less than $100,000 of the $2.6 million raised in the first quarter, and he's not obligated to pay back contributors -- FEC rules essentially bar candidates from using contributions for personal use, but campaign committees can hold on to contributions indefinitely.

Candidates can donate the money to nonprofits, transfer funds to national, state or local political committees or simply hang on to the money for a future run for office, according to FEC spokeswoman Judith Ingram.

To stay in the Florida Senate, Haridopolos would have to run for re-election next year.

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