Kamala Harris builds huge financial lead over Donald Trump with $361 million fundraising

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According to Kamala Harris’ campaign team, $361 million was raised in August, surpassing the $130 million raised by Donald Trump. This gives the Democratic candidate a greater financial advantage as the US presidential race enters its final two months.

Harris’ campaign said it had $404 million in cash on hand at the end of last month, compared with $295 million for Trump. All told, the vice president has raised more than $615 million since entering the race in July.

“Make no mistake: This election will be hard-fought and hard-won,” said Harris campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodriguez. “But with the undeniable, organic support we’re seeing, we’re committed to doing everything we can to mobilize our coalition and defeat Donald Trump once and for all.”

Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic Party National Committee, said August was “the single best month for local fundraising in presidential election history.”

Trump outraised President Joe Biden in the second quarter of the year as he united the Republican Party, became the first former president to be convicted of a crime through his New York “hush money” trial and debated the president for the first time in 2024.

But Democrats have become more enthusiastic since Harris replaced Biden after he dropped out of the race on July 21.

Harris now heads into the fall with a significant advertising advantage. Overall, pro-Harris political groups booked about $380 million in advertising from September through Election Day on Nov. 5, compared with $195 million for Trump, according to AdImpact.

The Trump campaign has also bragged about its ability to raise funds from small donors. But it has benefited from one of the biggest individual donors this cycle — Tim Mellon, a reclusive scion of the billionaire American banking dynasty. Mellon has given $125 million to Make America Great Again, a pro-Trump super political action committee, according to the latest federal filings.

“With Republicans united and a growing number of independents and disaffected Democrats crossing party lines, the Trump-Vance campaign has momentum going into the final stretch of the race,” said Trump campaign adviser Brian Hughes, referring to Ohio Senator and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance.

“These August fundraising numbers are a reflection of that movement and will propel President Trump’s America First movement back to the White House so we can undo the terrible failures of Harris and Biden.”