Democratic donors move to support Harris

Democratic donors are throwing their support behind Vice President Harris as the nominee, following President Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race. 

Key donors said they would support Harris, and others pledged to do the same in the immediate hours following Biden’s announcement. 

“This is exactly what we needed at this moment, some direction and hope,” said one longtime Democratic bundler. “I don’t think I’ve felt as energized as I do now this entire cycle.” 

The bundler said he had heard from dozens of donors on Sunday afternoon who said they would help support Harris should she become the Democratic candidate. Before Biden’s announcement, the bundler said donors had frozen checks because of the uncertainty surrounding Biden. 

“No one wanted to give a cent,” the bundler said. “People were completely demoralized and down. Things seem to be turning around very quickly.” 

In interviews last week, some donors told The Hill they were leaning toward an open convention should Biden drop out of the race. Some were still feeling that way on Sunday, with slightly more optimism.  

“I would prefer that they do a mini process. They won’t,” said one prominent fundraiser.

“It will be Harris-Kelly,” the donor added, referring to Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. 

Some donors and fundraisers said Harris was likely to galvanize the Democratic base, but they expressed concern about her ability to speak to independent voters in key battleground states. 

“Would she excite our base? Yes. But I’m not sure she has the ability to sway some of these other undecided voters,” one fundraiser said.

Another donor said having an open convention would “bring a new level of excitement to the party.” 

“I know some people think it would be chaotic and maybe it would but I think it would also inspire a lot of people and show them what the party can do. And if Harris wins, so be it. But we show we can be adults and do what’s best for the party in order to defeat Trump,” the donor said.

Officials at Democratic super PACs said they were also hearing positive feedback from donors about Harris. 

“Every donor I’ve talked to is supportive and ready to get to work,” said one super PAC official. And other Democratic groups like the Progressive Turnout Project were soliciting donations within hours.

On Sunday afternoon, the Biden campaign officially filed paperwork to rename their campaign committee “Harris for President,” which some donors said was a seamless transition. 

Several donors acknowledged that backing Harris would be the most seamless choice. With the clock quickly dwindling and just more than 100 days before the election, they worried it was too late to get behind another candidate. 

“She’s already on the ticket. She’s been tested. And we really don’t have the luxury of time here,” a second donor said. “We’re heading into August and ideally this process would have happened months ago so we’re not building the plane as we fly it.” 

One longtime Democratic bundler who has supported Harris for years said Sunday was “a very good day.” 

“Donors who were holding their money, even commitments, literally wrote the checks today,” the bundler said. 

Two Democratic bundlers told The Hill on Sunday that donors were writing checks and quickly backing Harris. "There's a lot of movement today," one of the two donors said.