In a remarkable display of political support following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he would not run for re-election, the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue recorded an impressive $100 million in donations over just two days. This surge occurred shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign, with $66.9 million raised on the first day alone, marking the highest daily total for the 2024 fundraising cycle.
Data from Ryan Murphy at The Marshall Project indicates that this fundraising milestone for ActBlue also brings their overall total raised since its launch to $14 billion. In contrast, the Republican donation platform WinRed has raised approximately $4.3 billion since its inception in 2019.
The Democratic Party continues to attract significant financial backing, with Future Forward—a super PAC aligned with Biden—reporting $150 million in new commitments from major donors within 24 hours of his announcement. Meanwhile, a grassroots initiative known as Swing Left claimed to have raised over $160,000 in the same timeframe.
ActBlue expressed enthusiasm about the influx of first-time donors joining the movement, highlighting the grassroots support shaping the current political landscape. Prominent Democratic figures, including mega-donors like George and Alex Soros, have already voiced their backing for Harris, suggesting a strong financial foundation moving forward for her campaign.
This surge in contributions reflects the energizing effect of recent political developments and the potential for a competitive Democratic primary season. Overall, the strong financial support underscores the continued engagement of the Democratic base and sets the stage for a vigorous campaign leading into the next election cycle.
This event showcases the resilience of the party and the importance of grassroots support in shaping the political landscape, potentially leading to a robust campaign environment for Harris and the Democratic Party.