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The vast majority seemed to flow into the Trump campaign coffers, the Republican National Committee, and their joint committees, but some went to new leadership that Trump established after the election that could help further his political ambitions in the future and retain your influence over the government. Republican Party in the coming years.
“These tremendous fundraising figures show that President Trump remains the leader and powerhouse of the Republican Party and that his supporters are dedicated to fighting for the legal and legitimate outcome of the 2020 general election,” said the manager. Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien in a statement.
In all, Trump’s political operation had sent 414 emails, and another 132 text messages, seeking funds between 11 p.m. ET on Election Night, Nov. 3, and Thursday afternoon.
Many claim to seek donations for their “Official Electoral Defense Fund.” In reality, however, the first 75% of each contribution currently flows to Save America, the new leadership PAC that Trump established less than a week after the election. A donor has to contribute $ 5,000 to Save America before the funds go to the Trump campaign tally account.
In recent days, Trump has stepped up his attacks on the election, releasing a 46-minute video on social media this week, filmed at the White House and replete with baseless allegations about the election.
Trump’s post-election run far outpaces his fundraising performance before the election. In the month of September, for example, the Trump campaign raised $ 81.3 million in total revenue.
Reports due Thursday night were expected to provide more details on Trump’s spending and cash reserves. But the post-election financial windfall could leave you with a substantial financial advantage if you mount another run for the White House in 2024.
The new submissions cover only a brief window of activity for Save America, the leadership PAC that Trump launched less than a week after the election. Save America became part of a joint fundraising operation with other Trump entities on November 18, and Thursday’s report covers only the activity through November 23.
Save America received nearly $ 570,000 in that period, much of it from donors who contributed in small amounts, documents show.
While politicians cannot use the money in leadership PACs directly in their campaigns, federal law provides ample room for maneuver in their spending, drawing criticism that these committees amount to little more than funds to cover expenses of travel, personal and personal.
In a statement, RNC President Ronna McDaniel indicated that the party’s money would help fund “electoral integrity” efforts and the GOP’s next big challenge: getting the vote in Georgia, where two Senate re-elections in January will determine whether his party retains control of the United States Senate.
“We are investing millions to address the unprecedented takeover by the Democrats and drive a massive Get Out The Vote operation in Peach state,” he said.
Most political committees are due to submit reports to federal regulators on Thursday detailing fundraising and spending between Oct. 15 and Nov. 23. In the press release, Trump officials said that all affiliated committees, with the exception of Save America, raised a total of $ 495 million. during that period of almost six weeks.
At that rate, Trump’s political operation raised money at a rate of more than $ 12 million a day.
“The speed with which Trump has reassembled himself after the general election” shows that “there is no longer an offseason,” Dan Eberhart, an energy executive and Republican donor, told CNN. “Once again, he is blowing up conventional political norms.”
Money pours into the Georgia Senate race
As Trump continues to raise funds, Thursday’s presentations also underscore the intense focus among the party’s top donors at the contests in Georgia.
Wealthy Republicans have unleashed a flood of cash to help their party prevail in both rounds of the state. Blackstone Chairman Stephen Schwarzman donated $ 15 million last month to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, according to a document filed with the Federal Commission on Elections.
Schwarzman, one of Trump’s loyal allies, made headlines recently when he acknowledged Trump’s loss in the White House and encouraged the country to “move on.”
Other major donors to the Senate-focused PAC include Kenneth Griffin, executive director of the Chicago hedge fund Citadel, who donated a total of $ 12 million in October and November. Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, contributed a total of $ 10 million in mid-October.
In total, the Senate Leadership Fund received $ 104 million between October 15 and November 23. The group said $ 71 million of that came into its account after Election Day.
Even before the recent revelations, the Adelsons were already the top donors in the 2020 election, contributing $ 180 million in the election cycle, as counted by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Those donations supported groups backing Trump’s reelection, along with those working to help Republicans retain their majority in the Senate and expand their numbers in the US House of Representatives.
The runoff in Georgia, which pits Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff against Republicans Loeffler and Perdue, has already been astronomically expensive. Candidates and outside groups have purchased more than $ 320 million worth of television and radio advertising, according to a tally of CNN data tracked by Kantar’s Campaign Media Analysis Group.
McConnell-linked groups have dominated foreign spending. The Senate Leadership Fund and an affiliated group, American Crossroads, have spent more than $ 87 million combined on television and radio advertising to influence the outcome.
Thursday’s filings show that Loeffler’s husband, New York Stock Exchange Chairman Jeffrey Sprecher, emerged as a major donor to a super PAC supporting his candidacy, Georgia United Victory. He donated $ 5 million of the nearly $ 6.6 million the group raised between October 15 and November 23.
This story has been updated with additional details from Thursday’s FEC presentations.
CNN’s Betsy Klein, David Wright, and Casey Tolan contributed to this story.
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