Vice President Kamala Harris has reportedly raised an unprecedented $1 billion in less than three months since entering the presidential race, a figure confirmed by individuals with knowledge of her campaign’s fundraising activities.
The amount includes funds raised for her campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and related party committees – and is being utilized to support an extensive advertising effort across television and digital platforms, while also funding a significant ground operation in key battleground states.
Historically, no candidate has raised such a large sum so quickly after entering a presidential race. Previous candidates, including President Biden and former President Donald Trump, reached the $1 billion threshold over a much longer period. Trump himself raised just over $850 million so far this year, well below her opponent’s pace. Harris, by contrast, more than doubled Trump’s fundraising efforts in both July and August, pulling in $361 million in August compared to his $130 million, and $310 million in July versus Trump’s $139 million.
Although Harris’ campaign has yet to release official figures for September, insiders suggest her fundraising will easily surpass Trump’s. The campaign has deliberately withheld the information, wary that revealing such high totals could dampen further donations as the election nears its final weeks. ALso, concerns about the potential influence of Republican super PACs, heavily funded by billionaire donors, have caused Harris’ team to proceed cautiously.
The federal reports that will make the September fundraising totals public are due later this month. However, based on projections, Harris is expected to significantly outpace Trump once again. At a single New York event in late September, she raised $27 million, followed by another $55 million at two events in California. In total, her campaign amassed $72 million in just a few days.
A large part of Harris’ fundraising success stems from grassroots contributions. Online donations have surged, facilitated by the Democratic donation platform ActBlue. Since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee in July, ActBlue has processed about $1.5 billion in contributions, more than doubling its intake from the previous period.
Harris’ fundraising team, composed largely of veterans from President Biden’s campaign, has played a crucial role in this achievement. Colleen Coffey and Michael Pratt lead the efforts to secure larger donations, while Jessica Porter manages the grassroots and online fundraising operations. Additionally, Harris has brought in trusted advisors such as Stephanie Daily Smith and Kristin Bertolina Faust to strengthen her financial team.
The magnitude of Harris’ fundraising has also allowed her to make strategic decisions that extend beyond her own campaign. In an unusual move, she directed $25 million from her joint accounts to other Democratic committees in early September. These funds were aimed at supporting down-ballot races, including campaigns for the House, Senate, governorships, and state legislatures.
