According to this story, Ben Carson, George Pataki, and Jim Gilmore will not appear at the Florida Republican Party’s fundraising event being held November 13-14. Therefore, under party rules, they must either pay $25,000, or submit 125 signatures of registered Republicans from each U.S. House district in the state. The story does not say which alternative they will use. It is unlikely they would want to avoid being on the ballot, because Florida is the nation’s third most populous state. Carson lives in Florida.

The party expects to raise $600,000 from the event. Tickets are $200, or $300 if the attendee wants to attend the dinner on November 12 at which former Vice-President Dick Cheney will speak.