Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has set a new fundraising record, announcing that it has raised $540 million, fueled by a surge of donations during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The campaign, which gained significant momentum after President Joe Biden endorsed Harris following the end of his own campaign in July, reported an outpouring of financial support, particularly around convention week.
According to a memo released by campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon on Sunday, the Harris campaign crossed the $500 million mark just before Harris’ acceptance speech on Thursday night.
The campaign experienced its most successful fundraising hour immediately following her speech.
The rapid influx of contributions positions Harris as a formidable challenger in her election battle against Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump.
Trump, who has also demonstrated strong fundraising abilities, announced that his campaign and affiliated committees raised $138.7 million in July.
However, the Harris campaign’s figures have significantly outpaced his efforts, with the vice president’s campaign bringing in more during its opening week than Trump did over an entire month.
Trump’s campaign reported $327 million in cash on hand as of early August, while Harris’ recent figures indicate her campaign’s financial strength in the race.
The $540 million raised by the Harris campaign includes contributions collected by Harris for President, the Democratic National Committee, and joint fundraising committees.
O’Malley Dillon highlighted that nearly one-third of the donations during convention week came from first-time contributors, with young voters and women making up significant portions of that group.
These demographics are key to Harris’ strategy, and the campaign is aiming to maintain their engagement as critical voting blocs in the upcoming November election.
Volunteer support for the Harris campaign has also spiked, with nearly 200,000 volunteer shifts scheduled during the convention.
The increased involvement reflects growing enthusiasm among supporters as the campaign moves into the final stretch.
The record-breaking fundraising and high levels of volunteer engagement signal strong momentum for Harris as she seeks to make history in her bid for the White House.
