Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign made history by raising over $100 million between Sunday afternoon and Monday evening, after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection and endorsed her. This impressive sum was raised across Harris’ campaign, the Democratic National Committee, and joint fundraising committees, demonstrating her significant financial advantage over potential challengers for the Democratic nomination. The campaign initially raised $81 million in the 24 hours following Biden’s announcement, breaking fundraising records for a presidential campaign.
The fundraising efforts were largely supported by grassroots donors, with over 888,000 individuals contributing in the 24-hour span. Sixty percent of these donors were first-time contributors for the 2024 election cycle. A call organized by the group “Win with Black Women” brought in $1.6 million. The total $100 million was contributed by more than 1.1 million unique donors, with 62% of them being first-time donors. Campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz highlighted the diverse coalition of supporters that Harris is attracting, describing it as a “groundswell” of grassroots energy and enthusiasm likely to lead to electoral success.
Harris officially launched her campaign on Sunday, endorsed by President Biden and supported by high-profile Democrats such as Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Biden chose to withdraw from the presidential race following a poor debate performance in late June, which raised concerns about his ability to secure a second term and defeat the Republican nominee in November. This led to calls from many Democrats urging him to step aside and support Harris as the Democratic nominee.
The Biden campaign swiftly rebranded as “Harris for President” following his endorsement of Harris, signaling a unified front within the party in support of the vice president. The rapid mobilization of support for Harris following Biden’s announcement reflects the momentum building around her candidacy and the enthusiastic response from a broad and diverse coalition of voters. The record-breaking fundraising totals provide a strong foundation for Harris’ campaign as she prepares to take on potential challengers for the Democratic nomination.
Melissa Quinn, a politics reporter for CBSNews.com, highlighted the significance of Harris’ fundraising success and the implications for the 2024 election cycle. Quinn’s coverage of U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts, places the fundraising achievements of the Harris campaign in the broader context of the evolving political landscape leading up to the next presidential election. Overall, the outpouring of support for Vice President Harris represents a major milestone in her campaign and sets the stage for a competitive and energizing race for the Democratic nomination.
