Lake County, FL – Josh Weil, the progressive Democrat who made national headlines earlier this year for raising record-shattering sums in his failed congressional run against Rep. Randy Fine, is now facing a lawsuit in Lake County accusing him and his campaign of stiffing a small business on nearly $8,000 in unpaid invoices.
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The case, filed by Bonnie Kurowski of Project Change Consultants LLC, alleges that Weil personally requested her help in launching and managing his congressional campaign in late 2024, at a time when he admitted his campaign had no money in the bank. According to the filing, Kurowski advanced funds and provided services—including campaign materials, fundraising support, and social media setup—with Weil promising reimbursement once donations started flowing.
Invoices submitted to the court total $7,955.00, covering reimbursements for expenses and consulting fees. Kurowski’s complaint claims Weil later refused to pay despite having millions in contributions, while other vendors and consultants were paid. She is also seeking statutory interest, court costs, and even treble damages under Florida’s civil theft statute, which could triple the amount if the court finds Weil’s refusal to pay was willful and fraudulent.
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Text Messages and Evidence
Attached to the filing are invoices dated January 14, 2025, and screenshots of text messages in which Weil appears to acknowledge the debt. In one exchange, Weil wrote: “Great. Everybody needs to get paid. Send me the invoice, and thank you so much for taking this.”
Another message shows Weil dismissing a payment request, saying: “10k is a lot and I just want to talk with you about what it is for.”
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Kurowski also sent a Final Demand & Civil Theft Notice in March, warning Weil that failure to pay could trigger legal action and lien proceedings.
The lawsuit adds to lingering questions about how Weil’s campaign handled its record haul of cash. During the 2025 special election against Randy Fine, Weil raised anywhere from $10 to $15 million, an unprecedented figure for a district-level race in Florida.
A sprawling compound in Silver Springs advertised on Airbnb as a “nicely decorated, rustic lodge” ideal for weddings and retreats instead became the unlikely headquarters of Josh Weil’s congressional campaign. Weil reportedly lived full time on the property, which boasts 18 bedrooms spread across three buildings, including a lake house. Federal campaign finance reports show he spent more than $51,000 in campaign funds renting the property, plus another $11,000 in additional AirBnb rentals.
Roughly $372,000 paid to “Vote Influencers” for event talent and musicians.
Weil’s AirBnb Campaign Headquarters
Despite the financial advantage and an early voting lead, Weil lost the race by about 14 points after a hard push by President Trump himself as well as money spent by Elon Musk on Fine’s behalf in the final days of the election.
After the congressional defeat, Weil briefly set his sights higher, filing to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026 to replace Republican incumbent Ashley Moody. He even pitched an unusual joint fundraising plan with other Democratic candidates that wasn’t well received according to those with personal knowledge. He stated he believed the Senate race would cost upwards of $100 million.
“We built what I believe is the strongest fundraising infrastructure in the country right now during our last campaign,” Weil told the Phoenix. “I believe that we have the opportunity and the ability to raise a lot of money, and that’s what Florida needs. That’s what the Florida Democratic Party needs. Someone can take that money and invest across the state.”
But just weeks later, on July 31, he abruptly withdrew, citing a recurrence of a muscle condition rhabdomyolysis that had says hospitalized him multiple times in 2021 and 2022. Weil previously had been a candidate for a brief time for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in 2022 before dropping out against Val Demings.
Now, Weil has launched a paid Substack newsletter, telling followers that while he intended to keep some of his writing behind a paywall, his most recent post was “too good” not to share publicly.
The Lake County small claims case will determine whether Weil’s campaign must reimburse Kurowski, but the allegations feed into a broader narrative of a candidate who raised staggering sums of money, spent lavishly, and is now accused of failing to pay a small Florida businesswoman who fronted funds in good faith.
If the court rules against him under Florida’s civil theft law, the $8,000 claim could balloon to more than $20,000 with treble damages, interest, and fees.
We reached out to Weil’s team for comment on the lawsuit, and have not yet received a response.
