New federal filings reveal a mixed financial situation for the Democratic Party after its setbacks in the November elections. While the Democratic National Committee (DNC) appears to be in a strong financial position, a leading liberal super PAC is grappling with tens of millions of dollars in unpaid bills.
The DNC reported a healthy bank balance of over $47 million as of November 25, with no debts, despite recent staff reductions following the election. In contrast, Vice President Kamala Harris’ defunct campaign, which had spent over $1 billion in an unsuccessful bid to defeat Republican Donald Trump, had just $1.8 million left in its accounts but no outstanding debts.
The filings, which cover fundraising and spending from October 17 to November 25, offer only a partial snapshot of the Democratic Party’s financial status as it works to recover after losing the White House and the Senate and failing to flip the House. Full financial reports from candidates, parties, and outside groups will be available in January when year-end filings are due to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Harris’ campaign saw significant spending during the final stretch of the election, spending more than $270 million from October 17 through the post-election period. Despite the aggressive fundraising efforts during and after the election, Harris’ campaign still reported $1.82 million in cash on hand as of November 25.
In the aftermath of the election, the Democrats have continued to solicit donations, with a recent email from Harris’ joint fundraising committee urging supporters to contribute to the “Harris Fight Fund” to help elect Democrats in future races. The funds raised are intended to bolster the DNC’s finances.
Meanwhile, Future Forward, the super PAC that supported Harris’ presidential bid, reported nearly $50 million in unpaid bills as of November 25. The group, which primarily spent on advertising, explained that the unpaid bills were not “real debt” but rather a reporting requirement from the FEC, and the invoices had already been paid. Chauncey McLean, who oversees Future Forward, assured that the next report would reflect the settled payments.
