Harris Outpaces Trump in Record-Breaking Fundraising Ahead of US Presidential Election

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris's campaign raised an impressive $361 million in August, nearly three times the $130 million collected by her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. This marks the highest monthly total for either party in the current election cycle, with a fundraising gap of $231 million. Since President Biden ended his re-election campaign on July 21, Harris's team has amassed over $615 million, giving her a significant financial advantage with just two months remaining until the November 5 election.

If this momentum continues, Harris's campaign could exceed $1 billion in fundraising between securing the nomination in late July and Election Day.

Currently, Harris's campaign has $404 million in cash, compared to Trump's $295 million, making her operation financially stronger. Both campaigns are expected to release official financial disclosures later this month, according to The Washington Post.

Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Harris-Walz 2024 Campaign Manager, celebrated the news: "In just a short time, Vice President Harris's candidacy has galvanized a history-making, broad, and diverse coalition – with the type of enthusiasm, energy, and grit that wins close elections," she told Axios. In July, Harris and the Democrats raised over $310 million, following the announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and her nomination at the Democratic National Convention, held from August 19 to 22.

Grassroots Support Fuels Harris's Campaign

Harris's team also reported August as the strongest grassroots fundraising month in presidential history, with nearly 3 million donors contributing, including 1.3 million first-time contributors. A notable spike in donations occurred on August 6, when Harris announced Walz as her vice-presidential pick.

Meanwhile, Trump’s fundraising has shown signs of slowing, with his August total slightly below the $138.7 million raised in July. According to CNN, Trump's highest fundraising days came in May following his felony conviction in New York.

Harris’s campaign is now focusing its resources on voter outreach, with a massive $370 million digital and TV ad push leading up to Election Day. The campaign is also planning a “weekend of action,” hosting 2,000 events and maintaining over 312 offices and 2,000 staffers across key battleground states.

Despite Harris’s fundraising edge, her campaign remains cautious. “We are prepared for a close, hard-fought contest in the final stretch,” Chavez Rodriguez emphasized.