Kamala Harris Continues to Spook Donors

Perhaps Kamala Harris is betting on the third time being the charm in her consideration to run in the 2028 presidential election. Even though she resoundingly lost twice before, that doesn’t seem to discourage the former vice president from dropping hints that she’s ready for another go. However, as we all know, money makes the political world go ’round, and it looks like Harris doesn’t have the backing she needs or even once had.

Kamala Spooking Donors

Lindy Li, a former Democratic National Committee fundraiser, was a guest on Fox News’ My View with Lara Trump and had some humiliating predictions for the former VP. “Kamala Harris is living in fantasyland ...,” she said, “[thinking] that big donors would bet on her again. She should just go away because the American people do not want her agenda.”

Donors and organizations don’t just toss money at candidates for the fun of it. As Li pointed out, contributions are a “business proposition,” and if that business doesn’t look at least somewhat promising, then there’s no incentive to risk large sums of money. Li mentioned that around $2.5 billion was spent “between Harris’ campaign operation and the pro-Harris Future Forward super PAC.” Fox News observed, “Federal filings show Harris’ principal campaign committee alone reported about $1.18 billion in disbursements during the 2023-24 cycle.”

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Some previous donors already feel burned because the post-election culpability was practically nil. “There’s been no accountability,” Li said. “The autopsy that they sent out was basically a sham, and they couldn’t even stand behind it. They didn’t even mention the fact that Kamala Harris is a terrible candidate.”

Furthermore, "This is why donors like me left the party in droves. And this is why they are so … broke. They literally had to put up their own headquarters … as collateral. They can't even get a text back from donors. So I don't want to hear anything about a big tent. You should not be normalizing socialism like this," Li explained.

What Are Harris’ Chances?

In July, Axios released its list of top potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic Party presidential nominee, and Kamala took first place. One of the biggest reasons is her continued popularity with the black community, which is an important voting bloc for the party. Second on the list was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), who could run for Senate or president. If Bernie Sanders endorses her, Axios said, then she raises $100 million without even talking to a single donor. And finally, third was California’s Gavin Newsom, whose hatred of President Donald Trump wins him points with the left and whose debating chops make him...charismatic

While some polls and outlets say Kamala is favored should she run for president, at least right now, how far would that popularity get her without enough financial contributions? The Los Angeles Times contacted more than two dozen top donors from 2024 and claimed that several of them said they don’t plan to support her should she choose to run. Others declined to answer, and still others didn’t respond at all.

“I don’t think it’s a helpful narrative [for 2028] to start with the 2024 hangover,” said one fundraiser for Harris’ 2024 campaign, who requested anonymity to speak candidly. “There is an enormous appetite for new blood — something fresh, something that really represents the future, not the past.”

“She’s run, she’s lost, so the question’s going to be, is there somebody that gives Democratic voters more of a sense that they could win?” said Dick Harpootlian, a longtime South Carolina Democratic strategist. “That’s what all of us are looking for. We want to win in ‘28.”

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who gave $1 million to Future Forward in 2024, said he was looking at a different Golden State option. “Gavin [Newsom] is the candidate who can motivate both the left and the center,” he told The Times.

Maybe the third time really will be the charm for Kamala Harris, but before she starts measuring the Oval Office curtains, there’s the pesky matter of paying for the trip back to Washington, DC. Polls may put her name at the top of the Democratic heap for now, but presidential campaigns run on more than name recognition and ambition. If some of the people who helped bankroll the last ride are already eyeing other horses in the 2028 race, Harris may discover that tossing her pantsuit into the ring is a whole lot easier than finding someone willing to pick up the tab.