United States Vice President, Kamala Harris, has shattered fundraising records in the wake of President Joe Biden’s unexpected decision to step down.
Harris’ campaign reported about $81 million raised within just 24 hours following Biden’s announcement, as both major donors and grassroots supporters flocked to back the vice president.
Campaign spokesperson, Kevin Munoz, revealed the impressive figure on Monday, highlighting a surge in contributions from across the political spectrum.
AP reports that the massive haul, which includes money raised across the campaign, the Democratic National Committee and joint fundraising committees, represents the largest 24-hour sum reported by either side in the 2024 campaign. Harris’ campaign said it was the largest single-day total in U.S. history.
“The historic outpouring of support for Vice President Harris represents exactly the kind of grassroots energy and enthusiasm that wins elections,” Munoz said.
According to a senior adviser said: “Hours earlier, Future Forward, the largest super PAC in Democratic politics, announced it had secured $150 million in commitments over the same period from donors who were “previously stalled, uncertain or uncommitted.”
Combined, the fundraising surge positions Harris strongly to secure the Democratic Party’s formal presidential nomination at next month’s national convention—or potentially even earlier.
Meanwhile, the donor class’s embrace comes as she locks up endorsements from the vast majority of Democratic governors and members of Congress.
The substantial haul also positions Harris and her allies to effectively compete with Donald Trump, who has recently amassed impressive fundraising totals as he campaigns to return to the White House amid multiple felony convictions and an assassination attempt.
Michael Kempner, a member of Biden’s national finance team, praised Harris’ emergence, saying, “This is the next generation people have been waiting for.”The donors I’ve spoken to are enthusiastic about supporting her. And even those that may have preferred an open convention have quickly coalesced around her overnight.”
Harris’ initial 24-hour fundraising total easily bested the $50 million Trump raised immediately after felony convictions and the $38 million Biden secured over the four days that followed last month’s disastrous debate performance.
However, the Trump campaign has not said how much it raised immediately after last weekend’s assassination attempt; a spokesman didn’t respond to a request Monday.
Overall, the Harris campaign said 888,000 grassroots donors made donations over the previous 24 hours; more than 500,000 were making their first contribution of the 2024 campaign cycle.