Kamala Harris has proven herself to be a skilled fundraiser, attracting significant support from billionaires and their spouses. In her previous presidential campaign in 2020, she received donations from 47 billionaires and their partners, more than any other candidate at the time. With the upcoming 2024 election, Harris could potentially see a substantial cash boost from these donors if they decide to contribute to her campaign once again.
Some of Harris’s previous billionaire donors have unfortunately passed away, while others have already donated the maximum amount allowed for the current election cycle. However, there are still 18 billionaires and their spouses who supported Harris in 2020 but did not contribute to Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. If these donors were to provide maximum contributions to Harris, she could potentially receive an additional $125,000 in campaign funds.
In addition to direct contributions to Harris’s campaign, billionaires can also support her through donations to political groups working on her behalf. For example, individuals can donate to PACs, the Democratic National Committee, and super PACs, allowing for larger contributions beyond the limits for direct campaign contributions. In the 2020 election, 230 billionaires donated nearly $692 million in support of Biden, while 133 billionaires backed Trump with $459.7 million in contributions.
Among the billionaires who supported Harris in 2020 but did not contribute to Biden’s re-election are individuals with diverse backgrounds and sources of wealth, such as Gap founder John Fisher, private equity investor Robert F. Smith, and Getty oil heir Gordon Getty. These donors, along with their spouses, could potentially provide additional financial support to Harris’s campaign in the upcoming election.
While Harris may not receive contributions from all of her previous billionaire donors, these individuals represent a significant source of potential funding for her campaign. With the support of these wealthy backers, Harris could continue to build on her successful fundraising efforts and secure the resources needed to compete effectively in the 2024 election.
