Democrats war chest grows as Kamala Harris campaign says it raised $82m during convention week

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign announced on Sunday that it raised $82 million during the Democratic National Convention last week, contributing to a total of $540 million raised over the past month.

National conventions typically boost fundraising efforts with extensive media exposure. Since President Biden’s withdrawal from the race on July 21, Harris’s campaign has seen a significant surge in donations. The Chicago convention, which ran from Monday to Thursday, featured messaging aimed at encouraging contributions from both large and small donors.

Following Harris’s acceptance speech on Thursday night, the campaign experienced its highest fundraising hour to date, though specific figures were not disclosed. The $82 million total includes donations to affiliated fundraising committees.

ActBlue, which handles many progressive donations, reported daily figures of $13 million on Monday, $16.5 million on Tuesday, $23 million on Wednesday, and nearly $37 million on Thursday.

In contrast, former President Donald Trump did not release comparable fundraising figures after the GOP convention in Milwaukee.

Despite being competitive in fundraising throughout 2024, Harris gained a $50 million cash-on-hand advantage over Trump at the beginning of August, following her rise to the top of the Democratic ticket.

The $82 million raised during the convention closely matches the $81 million the Harris campaign reported raising in the first 24 hours after Biden’s exit from the race.