Harris raised $200M in first week of White House campaign and signed up 170,000 volunteers
WASHINGTON — Deputy Director Kamala Harris’ campaign has raised $200 million since emerging last week as the likely Democratic presidential nominee, a stunning haul in her race against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
The campaign, which announced its latest fundraising total on Sunday, said the bulk of the donations — 66% — came from first-time donors in the 2024 election cycle and were made after President Joe Biden announced his departure out of the race and supported Harris.
More than 170,000 volunteers have also signed up to help the Harris campaign with phone banking, canvassing and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Election Day is just 100 days away.
“The momentum and energy for Vice President Harris are real — and so are the fundamentals of this race: This election will be very close and decided by a small number of voters in just a few states,” Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director, wrote in a memo.
Harris campaigned in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, drawing hundreds of people to a fundraiser organized when Biden was still at the top of the Democratic ticket. The fundraiser was originally expected to raise $400,000 but ended up raising about $1.4 million, the campaign said.
Harris quickly gained support from Democrats after Biden, whose candidacy foundered after his disastrous performance in the June 27 debate against Trump, dropped out of the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, former House Minority Leader Jim Clyburn, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were quick to announce their support.
Top Democratic fundraisers, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama announced their support on Friday.
Harris said at her fundraising event on Saturday that she is still the “underdog” in the race, but that her campaign is gaining momentum.
Future Forward, the largest super PAC in Democratic politics, announced last week that it had received $150 million in pledges from donors in the first 24 hours after Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris.
Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate say they also an increase in support since Harris emerged as the party’s likely nominee.