WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris’ campaign team and affiliated Democratic groups raised nearly $633 million during the last quarter, which ended last month, bringing their total to over $1 billion, while maintaining a significant financial advantage over Republican candidate Donald Trump in the final stretch of the presidential elections.
The vice president's campaign team, the Democratic National Committee, and state parties raised over 359 million dollars just in September. Harris' campaign raised around 222 million dollars in September. Only Harris' team spent more than what they raised last month, disbursing around 270 million dollars to help boost a massive advertising campaign, while working to reach voters through radio, television, internet, billboards, and other avenues.
Harris' campaign and its affiliated committees entered October with $346 million in cash, according to federal filings.
Trump's campaign team, the Republican National Committee, and affiliated groups reported raising $160 million in September, up from $130 million in August. They had $283 million in the bank at the beginning of October.
Harris' campaign did not disclose its quarterly fundraising before submitting financial records. This was a change from what it had been doing up to now: reporting on the large monthly totals that far exceeded those raised by Trump and the Republican Party since Harris took over as the front-runner for President Joe Biden's candidacy in July.
However, prior to her latest statements, Harris' campaign indicated on Sunday night that 95% of their donations in the third quarter were less than $200. Approximately 6 million donors made over 13.1 million contributions to Harris, including 4.3 million individuals who donated for the first time this election cycle, as detailed by the campaign team.
Harris also benefited from the power of celebrities to increase donations.
The vice president's team claims to have raised 55 million dollars during a fundraising campaign in California over a weekend at the end of September. They raised 28 million dollars at an event in Los Angeles attended by stars such as Jessica Alba, Lily Tomlin, and Stevie Wonder. They also raised 27 million dollars at an event held in San Francisco, where former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was in attendance.
Last weekend, Harris received 27 million dollars in a lavish fundraising event in New York.