In April, Former President Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party out-raised President Biden and the Democrats for the first time in the current election cycle. Trump’s campaign, along with Republican committees, raised $76.2 million, while Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee brought in $51 million. Biden’s campaign reported raising $24.2 million in April, a decrease from the $43.8 million raised in March, while Trump’s campaign had $48 million in net cash on hand, up from $45 million in March.
Despite Trump’s recent fundraising success, Biden still holds a significant advantage in total cash on hand, with $84.5 million at the end of April compared to Trump’s $48 million. Biden’s joint fundraising agreement with the Democratic National Committee has allowed him to build an overall war chest of $192 million. The Biden campaign has been investing in offices across battleground states and an early advertising blitz, leading to the flat month-over-month cash on hand figure.
Although Trump leads in many polls, Democrats have maintained a cash advantage throughout the campaign. This is partly due to Biden’s early joint fundraising agreement with the Democratic Party, which Trump did not secure until after his primary challenges were over. Trump also continues to spend millions on legal bills, with his Save America committee paying $3.3 million in April for that purpose.
In April, Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party reported a busy fundraising month, raising over $50 million at a private dinner in Palm Beach, Florida. On the other hand, Biden’s fundraising slowed in April compared to the previous month, which included high-profile events like a State of the Union address and a star-studded gathering at Radio City Music Hall. The Biden campaign and party raised $90 million in March and over $53 million in February.
According to campaign statements, Biden’s campaign manager highlighted the strong grassroots enthusiasm reflected in the new fundraising figures. Trump’s campaign, on the other hand, expressed concern over the lower fundraising numbers compared to the previous month and emphasized Trump’s courtroom commitments. The Trump campaign spent very little of the total haul, with most going toward fundraising and legal consulting.
Both the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National Committee reported significant fundraising totals in April, with the latter ending the month with more cash on hand. Trump’s Save America committee received a substantial transfer in April and continued to fund his legal fees. Additionally, the super PAC supporting Trump, MAGA Inc., raised $12.8 million in April, with a significant contribution from businessman Timothy Mellon. Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent campaign saw steady fundraising but escalating expenses as they seek ballot access in all 50 states.
