Kamala’s problems are getting worse.
Kamala Harris is still hitting up Democratic donors for cash weeks after her election defeat, and it’s rubbing many of her own party’s supporters the wrong way. Despite losing in a landslide, the vice president continues to send fundraising emails demanding contributions for her “Harris Fight Fund,” with one recent message urging donors to act “today” to help “fight back” against Donald Trump and his “MAGA loyalists.” The email scolds potential donors for not having yet pitched in, even as Harris faces mounting criticism for her campaign’s financial mismanagement.
In just 15 weeks of campaigning, Harris raised a staggering $1.5 billion — but blew through it all, leaving her campaign more than $20 million in debt, according to sources close to the campaign. This level of financial mismanagement has prompted sharp rebukes from political insiders. One Democratic strategist, Jon Reinish, called the constant fundraising appeals “insulting,” especially given the campaign’s lackluster performance and the massive debt left behind. Reinish added, “After burning through over a billion dollars, and still asking for more donations, it’s hard to take them seriously.”
Harris’ fundraising missteps aren’t just frustrating her donors—they’re also a problem for the future of the Democratic Party. The party is set to choose a new chair following Joe Biden’s exit from the White House, and many are concerned that Harris’ campaign will be a key issue for the new leader to address. As veteran Democratic strategist James Carville put it, a “full autopsy” of Harris’ campaign is necessary to ensure the party learns from its mistakes. “People want to know where all that money went,” Carville said, calling for a deeper investigation into the campaign’s spending habits.
Among the more questionable expenditures were significant payments to high-profile figures and organizations, including $1 million to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions, nearly $1 million for advertisements on the Las Vegas Sphere, and over half a billion dollars to just four well-connected Democratic media firms. These questionable choices have led many within the Democratic Party to demand accountability for Harris’ financial decisions.
As Harris continues to ask for more donations despite her campaign’s failure, the anger from frustrated donors is growing. Some are calling for transparency, with questions about where the money went and who benefited from the campaign’s spending spree. If the Democratic Party is serious about recovering from the defeat, it may need to take a hard look at the mistakes made under Harris’ leadership and ensure that future campaigns handle funds more responsibly.