Democratic donor snubs Kamala Harris fundraiser with profanity-filled reply: Report
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Several democratic donors have reportedly withdrawn from a major fundraising event for former Vice President Kamala Harris, with one expressing frustration in a profanity-filled response.
The report by The Wall Street Journal, which was out on Wednesday, October 22, suggests that some donors are withholding contributions until the party outlines a clear strategy to win upcoming elections.
Fundraising challenge and donor frustration
According to the report, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has been struggling to raise money during President Donald Trump's second term in office.
The DNC attempted to reach out to major donors earlier this year through the San Francisco-based fundraiser, but most had declined, according to the sources familiar with the conversation.
"Upon receiving the invitation, one replied with a profanity-laced rejection," the report read. "Others said they didn’t want to give to the party until it produced substantive plans to win elections. Those who declined told the national party they had commitments and couldn’t make it work."
The report also says that the DNC eventually found a donor to host the event, but it "raised less than organizers had hoped."
The report added that the backlash, along with a sharp drop in funding, may reflect frustration over Harris’ unsuccessful presidential bid and the absence of a clear strategy for the upcoming midterm elections.
"A top official at a national Democratic group said some donors remain angry about how their money was spent in last year’s presidential election by outside groups, including on what they see as excessive salaries for Washington, DC, consultants.
The official said the party has failed to complete a public post-election investigation into what went wrong in 2024," the report said.
"It is shocking how little reassessment the party and its leadership has done," said Rachel Pritzker, chair of the think tank Third Way.
Optimism and state-level focus
Some donors, however, were more optimistic about the party’s prospects, who were focusing more on the state-level elections, such as Abigail Spanberger's bid for Virginia governor.
According to the report, the DNC has about $12 million in cash reserves compared to the $86 million held by the Republican National Committee.
Though some sources told the outlet that this was a reflection of the party that is out of power raising less money.
Others believed it was a sign of the growing division between progressive and establishment candidates.
Democrats face setback over low approval
The report reflects the overall setback for the democrats, especially after losing the White House and Senate in 2024 and failing to win back the House.
The party’s approval ratings have fallen to their lowest level in decades.
During the recent “No Kings” rally, although the protest was against the Trump administration, many demonstrators were seen expressing disappointment and were underwhelmed with the Democratic leadership.
