Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party huge amount of money raised The operation raised more than $1 billion to compensate for her loss to Donald Trump, but the vice president is still asking donors for more money after the election.
Democrats have relentlessly appealed to Harris’ supporters without explicitly asking them to cover potential debt, instead wooing potential donors with other matters. candidates for his next government and several pending legislative elections where ballots are still being counted.
“The Harris campaign has certainly spent more than it has raised and is busy raising money right now,” said Adrian Hemond, a Democratic strategist from Michigan. He said that after his loss to Trump, his campaign asked him to help raise money.
The party floods Harris’ lucrative e-mail donor list with calls to small donors, or those who donate less than a few hundred dollars, almost every day. But Hemond said post-election efforts will also include individual appeals to major donors.
The contest highlights the costs of defeat and the immediate challenges facing Democrats as they seek to maintain basic political operations against the Trump administration and prepare for the 2026 midterm elections. Questions have also been raised about how Democrats used their resources, including hosting events with musicians and other celebrities and advertising in a variety of nontraditional spaces, including the domed Sphere in Las Vegas. There is.
Internally, the apparent funding shortfall was blamed on the campaign’s decision to suspend paychecks for many senior staff as of Saturday, including those who were originally supposed to be paid until the end of the year. has been done. In the face of internal dissatisfaction, the campaign has in recent days offered affected people health insurance through the end of the year, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to share internal discussions. It is said that they have been notified that this will apply.
Another person familiar with fundraising and the Democratic National Committee’s finances said the Harris campaign’s projected shortfall was $119 million in cash on hand as of mid-October, before the Nov. 5 election. He said the amount was relatively small compared to the broader size of the campaign. . The person was not authorized to publicly discuss campaign finances and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Patrick Stauffer, the Harris campaign’s chief financial officer, said in a statement that there were “no outstanding debts or past due invoices” on Election Day, and that the next financial disclosure would not include either the campaign or the DNC. There is no debt.” , is expected to be filed with the Federal Election Commission in December.
People familiar with the campaign and the DNC’s finances said it was impossible to know the current state of Harris’ balance sheet. The campaign continues to receive invoices from vendors for events and other services even close to the end of the race. This campaign also has unpaid receipts. For example, from a news organization that has to pay for a spot for its employees to ride on Air Force Two as it travels for the vice president’s campaign.
Within hours of President Trump’s election Florida Republican Matt Gaetz On Wednesday, Harris supporters received an appeal for additional funding to the Harris Fight Fund, citing the emerging Trump campaign and its policies.
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress after the announcement, “will weaponize the Department of Justice to protect us,” the email said. The newspaper said Democrats “must stop President Trump from carrying out his plans for revenge and retaliation.” his republican allies I am shocked by this cabinet choice.
Another appeal in Harris’ name followed on Friday.
“As long as we keep fighting, the light of America’s promise will burn bright,” the email said, adding, “There are still many races across the country that are too close, open to recounts, or certain. ” he added. Legal challenge. ”
The email does not mention Harris’ campaign or its finances.
“Harris Fight Fund” is the post-election label for the “Harris Victory Fund,” a joint fundraising effort between the Harris campaign, the DNC, and the state Democratic Party. Despite the language of the recent appeal, most general donor contributions will go to the national party unless the donor takes the time to contact the DNC directly and ensure that the funds go directly to Harris or the state party. It turns out.
The fine print at the bottom of the offer explains that the first $41,300 from individuals and the first $15,000 from political action committees will be allocated to the DNC. $3,300 from the following individuals or $5,000 from the PAC would go to President Harris’ “recount account.” Contributions above that threshold, amounting to up to several hundred thousand dollars, would be dispersed among the parties.
DNC officials, who are expected to change leadership early next year, say the party has no plans to fill Harris’s shortfall, but they cannot definitively rule out the party using the money for campaign coffers. he suggested.
