The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has directed a substantial sum exceeding $15 million towards Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign debts, a move that has significantly affected the party's financial standing. As reported by Axios, this allocation has left the DNC with a mere $15 million in available funds at the end of July, a stark contrast to the Republican National Committee's (RNC) robust $80 million cash reserves.
This financial disparity places the Democrats at a $65 million disadvantage as both parties gear up for the pivotal 2026 midterm elections. The gap underscores a major hurdle for Democratic fundraising efforts in the near future.
The DNC's specific expenditures include a $548,050 payment to a charter flight company for Harris' campaign travel expenses, over $2 million to Assembly House LLC for media production and campaign advertising, and $237,201 to the law firm Covington & Burling for legal expenses. These are only a fraction of the overall debt obligations that have been transferred to the DNC, as per Axios' findings.
Vice President Harris' presidential campaign expenditures amounted to an unprecedented $1.5 billion over a 15-week period. Despite this colossal spending, the campaign did not achieve victory in any of the seven swing states during the general election against President Donald Trump, leading to a sense of frustration among Democratic donors who are now hesitant to further fund the DNC.
Former Harris campaign chair Jen O'Malley Dillon commented on the financial collaboration between the vice president and the party, stating, "The vice president has collaborated closely with the DNC to manage campaign expenses and expand our base of grassroots donors. She remains fully committed to strengthening the party and helping return Democrats to power."
Patrick Stauffer, the Harris campaign's chief financial officer, assured reporters in November that as of Election Day, there were no outstanding debts or bills overdue, and there would be no debt reported on either the DNC or the Harris for President committee for the post-general report.
Meanwhile, Harris has been facing criticism for embarking on a global book tour to promote her memoir titled "107 Days," which details her experience in what she calls "the shortest presidential campaign in modern history." The announcement of her 15-city book tour, which began on September 24, was met with mockery on social media, with many calling it tone-deaf in light of her defeat to Trump.
Additionally, Harris made headlines when she announced at the end of July that she would not seek the governorship of California, ending months of speculation about her political future. In a statement, she expressed her love for the state and its people but decided against running for Governor in the upcoming election.
