Harris campaign says it has raised $540M, sees surge of donations during DNC

Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has reported a significant fundraising achievement, amassing $540 million to support her election battle against former President Donald Trump. This financial milestone underscores the robust support Harris has garnered since President Joe Biden announced the end of his own campaign on July 21 and quickly endorsed her candidacy. The campaign experienced a notable surge in contributions during the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago, where Harris and her vice-presidential running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, officially accepted their party's nominations.

Campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon highlighted this success in a memo released on Sunday, noting that the campaign surpassed the $500 million mark just before Harris delivered her acceptance speech on the final night of the convention. Following her speech, the campaign witnessed its best fundraising hour since the launch of her White House bid.

While Trump has also proven to be a formidable fundraiser, Harris' campaign appears to have outpaced him in just the first month of her campaign. Earlier this month, Trump's campaign and its affiliated committees announced raising $138.7 million in July. However, this amount is less than what Harris raised during the first week of her campaign alone. As of the beginning of August, Trump's campaign reported having $327 million in cash on hand.

The $540 million raised by Harris' campaign was collected through various channels, including Harris for President, the Democratic National Committee, and joint fundraising committees. O'Malley Dillon pointed out that nearly one-third of the contributions received during the convention week came from first-time donors, with a significant portion of these being young voters and women—two crucial voter groups that Harris' campaign views as essential for securing a victory in the upcoming November election.

In addition to the impressive fundraising totals, the Harris campaign has experienced a significant increase in volunteer support. During the week of the Democratic National Convention, nearly 200,000 volunteer shifts were scheduled by supporters eager to assist the campaign. This surge in both financial contributions and grassroots volunteer efforts highlights the strong momentum behind Harris as she prepares for the final months leading up to the election.