Kamala Harris’s Record-Breaking $1.39 Billion Campaign: Why Americans Donated Billions

Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign achieved unprecedented fundraising success. In the first 24 hours following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal and endorsement of Harris on July 21, 2024, her campaign raised over $81 million, marking the largest single-day total in U.S. presidential campaign history. (Associated Press)

By the end of August 2024, Harris’s campaign had accumulated approximately $690 million in total receipts, surpassing the fundraising totals of previous major-party presidential nominees at comparable points in their campaigns. (Ballotpedia)

In the third quarter of 2024, encompassing July through September, Harris and affiliated Democratic groups raised about $633 million, bringing their total fundraising to over $1 billion. This period included a significant $359 million raised in September alone. (Associated Press)

Overall, Harris’s campaign and associated committees amassed over $1.39 billion during the 2024 election cycle, reflecting a robust and historic fundraising effort. (New York Post)

Read that again: $1.39 billion. That is a laughable, ridiculous amount of money. Why? Why did people give her the dough? Because they wanted her to be president – because they believed that her vision for America was just so much better than Trump’s? It could very well be – all I can do is track financial figures. I cannot track the heart of the donor. But I tried.

I did some more research and tried to be as unbiased as possible (After all, according to many, I am a Republican hack). Here’s what I found. People contributed significant amounts to Kamala Harris’s campaign for several reasons:

1. Historic Significance: Harris’s identity as the first woman of Black and South Asian descent on a major presidential ticket played a significant role in inspiring many. Her candidacy represented a historic moment, motivating donors who were passionate about promoting diversity and inclusivity in leadership. This point was emphasized in various reports, such as an analysis by The Guardian, which highlighted the significance of her background and representation. (The Guardian)
2. Democratic Unity: With President Joe Biden’s full endorsement and active support, Harris benefited from the unified backing of the Democratic Party. The party’s organizational power helped her tap into an extensive donor network. Articles from Politico and NBC News described how the Democratic establishment quickly consolidated around Harris, energizing fundraising efforts. (Politico, NBC News)
3. Policy Positions: Harris’s stances on key issues like climate action, healthcare reform, education, and reproductive rights resonated deeply with progressive and centrist audiences. Her appeal as a candidate committed to these causes drove donations from individuals and advocacy groups. The New York Times covered how her platform galvanized activists and donors focused on progressive agendas. (The New York Times)
4. Anti-Trump Sentiment: Many donors were motivated by a desire to defeat former President Donald Trump, Harris’s primary opponent. Trump remains a polarizing figure, and significant funding came from individuals who saw Harris as a vehicle to prevent his return to power. CNN reported on the impact of anti-Trump sentiment as a major catalyst for Democratic fundraising efforts. (CNN)
5. Grassroots Momentum: Harris’s campaign successfully harnessed digital platforms to engage a wide range of small-dollar donors. The campaign’s strategic use of social media and digital outreach fueled a strong grassroots fundraising base, as reported by Axios. (Axios)
6. High-Profile Fundraisers: The campaign organized numerous events featuring celebrities, business leaders, and influential cultural figures, which brought significant media attention and financial support. These high-visibility fundraisers underscored the stakes of the 2024 election and brought in large contributions, according to The Financial Times. (Financial Times)

This convergence of historical significance, Democratic unity, policy alignment, anti-Trump sentiment, and grassroots activism fueled the massive financial support for Harris’s campaign.

But here’s the thing. She lost. America simply didn’t buy what she tried to sell. And apparently $1.39 billion wasn’t enough. The Harris campaign accumulated up to $20 million in debt, partly due to organizing multiple concerts in swing states on the eve of the election. These events, intended to boost voter turnout, involved substantial expenses for production and staffing. The financial strain has raised concerns about the campaign’s ability to pay staff and vendors, with some insiders worried about potential legal actions if payments are not fulfilled. (Conservative Brief)

So, she raised record amounts and spent even more than what she had. Is this a precursor of who she would have been as President? I get it – Trump’s Presidency did the same thing. Sooner or later, somebody has to worry about spending. Back to candidate fundraising.

As of October 17, 2024, Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and affiliated groups have raised approximately $1.08 billion. This total includes $381.5 million raised directly by the campaign and $694.2 million by outside groups supporting his candidacy. (Open Secrets)

In September 2024 alone, Trump’s campaign reported raising over $160 million, bringing their total cash on hand to $283 million at the start of October. (Associated Press)

So I had to research – without bias (I’m trying) as to why people gave to Trump.

Legal Challenges and Perceived Persecution: Trump’s legal issues, including indictments and a felony conviction, were framed by his campaign as politically motivated attacks. This narrative resonated with supporters, leading to significant fundraising surges. For instance, following his May 30, 2024, conviction, the campaign raised $34.8 million in less than seven hours, breaking previous single-day donation records. (Wikipedia)

Policy Proposals and Economic Promises: Trump’s pledges to implement aggressive immigration policies, expand tariffs, and roll back environmental regulations appealed to specific voter segments and industries. Notably, in April 2024, he secured commitments from oil industry executives by promising to reverse Biden-era environmental policies. (Wikipedia)

High-Profile Endorsements and Alliances: Support from influential figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. bolstered Trump’s campaign. Musk’s financial contributions and social media influence, particularly through his platform X, amplified pro-Trump messaging and mobilized voter engagement. (New York Magazine)

Grassroots Support and Small-Dollar Donations: Beyond large contributions, Trump’s campaign effectively mobilized grassroots supporters. Following his conviction, the campaign reported receiving over 450,000 donations in a single day, indicating widespread small-dollar donor engagement. (Le Monde)

Opposition to Democratic Policies: Many donors were motivated by opposition to Democratic policies and candidates. Trump’s campaign capitalized on this sentiment, presenting him as the candidate capable of reversing Democratic initiatives, thereby attracting financial support from those seeking policy changes. (The Times)

Trump’s campaign doesn’t have any debt. Kinda like Weld County. He should try that as a President. It’s fun, and people seem to like it.

As someone who has sought and holds public office, I have certainly raised money. I hate it. But I believe in myself, my character, my intention, and my ability as an elected representative to competently represent my constituents in government and get stuff done. I have raised hundreds of dollars as a councilman and mayor, tens of thousands as a county commissioner, and into the hundreds of thousands (but not near enough) as a congressional candidate.

While humbled and grateful for everyone who has ever given me a dime, I never felt like I “owed” them anything, other than for me to use the skills and judgment God gave me to competently run a government.

But billions? To me, that is staggering. Is there an expectation?

Ultimately, Americans said no to the billions in advertising for Harris, and yes to the billions in advertising for Trump? Did the money make a difference? I don’t know, nor do I have an earth shattering conclusion to all these data points, other than there are moneyed interests who endeavor every day to sway your opinion. Make sure you are rooted in principle and clear eyed when interacting with government. Because apparently, billions are on the line.