Vice President Kamala Harris’s failed 2024 presidential campaign ended with a reported $20 million in debt, despite raising over $1 billion in donations, according to a recent Politico report.
After replacing President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket in July, Harris’s campaign struggled to manage its finances effectively, accumulating significant debt even as donations poured in.
Politico’s California bureau chief, Christopher Cadelago, shared on X that “Kamala Harris’s campaign ended with at least $20 million in debt.”
He noted that as of mid-October, Harris had $118 million on hand, which apparently wasn’t enough to offset the rapid spending overseen by her campaign team.
A Harris-Walz campaign staffer confirmed to Breitbart that campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon’s spending decisions contributed to the financial troubles.
“She blew through a billion dollars in just a few months,” the staffer said, pointing to the high-cost events as one of the key factors.
Celebrity concerts featuring stars like Katy Perry, Lizzo, Eminem, and Bruce Springsteen were reportedly O’Malley Dillon’s idea.
These concerts, while flashy, may have diverted funds from more essential campaign expenses like social media outreach and other voter engagement efforts.
The source further noted that Rob Flaherty, the deputy campaign manager, is now attempting to sell the campaign’s fundraising email list to other Democratic organizations to help recover some of the lost funds.
“They’re doing whatever they can to raise back the money we lost,” the staffer commented.
Campaign insiders reportedly expressed frustration with O’Malley Dillon’s management style, suggesting her approach was heavy-handed and not aligned with Harris’s vision.
“Many people on the campaign felt like we lost because Kamala wasn’t allowed to run her campaign,” the staffer said, claiming O’Malley Dillon treated Harris’s run more like Biden’s, even keeping the campaign’s main headquarters in Biden’s home state of Delaware rather than relocating to align with Harris’s campaign.
Adding to the discontent, several campaign workers are allegedly still awaiting payment for their services. “There are people still owed money,” the staffer said, noting that some have grown disillusioned with the campaign’s financial management and leadership choices.
On Wednesday afternoon, Harris conceded the election to President-elect Donald Trump during a speech at Howard University, expressing gratitude to her supporters but acknowledging the campaign’s disappointing end.
