Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign was flooded with a record-breaking $81 million in donations in the 24 hours after President Biden dropped out of the race, according to her team.
The veep’s campaign touted the haul as the “largest 24-hour raise in presidential history” and also laid claim to the $240 million cash on hand Biden raised with Harris as his vice president.
Harris took over Biden’s Federal Election Commission filing hours after he dropped out of the 2024 race, arguing that her name had already been on the account as VP.
The Democratic super PAC Future Forward also received another $150 million in donations after Biden endorsed Harris for the nomination, according to Politico.
The avalanche of funds comes after several major donors with Future Forward were reportedly threatening to hold up $90 million in donations last week if Biden, 81, remained the nominee.
“The historic outpouring of support for Vice President Harris represents exactly the kind of grassroots energy and enthusiasm that wins elections,” Harris campaign rep Kevin Munoz said in a statement.
“Already, we are seeing a broad and diverse coalition come together to support our critical work of talking to the voters that will decide this election. There is a groundswell behind Kamala Harris, and Donald Trump is terrified because he knows his divisive, unpopular agenda can’t stand up to the Vice President’s record and vision for the American people,” Munoz said.
Harris, 59, has been endorsed by nearly every major Democrat to replace Biden as the party’s nominee, save for former President Barack Obama and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
Her likely challengers for the nomination also have already issued statements of support, meaning she will likely not be challenged for the nomination at the Democratic National Committee convention next month.
But some Democratic donors have expressed skepticism about throwing their money behind Harris, as they don’t believe she has the capacity to win.
What to know about President Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race:
- President Biden announced Sunday he is dropping out of the 2024 presidential race — after weeks of prominent Democrats and donors calling on him to withdraw following his disastrous performance in the first presidential debate.
- In a letter posted on X Sunday afternoon, Biden admitted that it is in the “best interest of my party and country” for him to step down as the Democratic nominee.
- Biden wrote that he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and will address the country on his decision later this week.
- In a follow-up X post, Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the suddenly open Democratic nomination. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” the president wrote.
- Former President Donald Trump reacted to the news by labeling Biden the “worst president in the history of our country” in a call with CNN.
“You have to be enthusiastic or hoping for a political appointment to be asking friends for money. I am neither. It’s others turn now,” deep-pocketed Democratic donor John Morgan wrote on X.
Democratic donor and tech investor Vinod Khosla added in a tweet, “I want an open process at the convention and not a coronation.
“The key still is who can best beat [Trump] above all other priorities given how much a danger he is,” Khosla said.