Where did Kamala’s campaign money go? Why are they asking for donations after the election?

Kamala Harris’s campaign spent over $1 billion during the 2024 presidential race. The funds were used for various purposes, including media buys, event production, and outreach efforts. In the final weeks of the campaign, significant amounts were spent on advertising, travel, and rallies featuring celebrities like Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, and Oprah Winfrey.

The campaign also invested in connecting with diverse communities, such as paying for events at black barbershops and engaging with e-sports teams.  Despite raising over $1 billion, the campaign’s extensive spending on advertising, events, and outreach efforts led to this financial shortfall. The campaign is now actively fundraising to cover the debt and maintain a baseline political operation. After all of that, she still lost to Donald Trump.

Before diving into some of the general things Kamala’s campaign spent money on, let’s raise another question. Why are they asking for donations after the election is already over? That’s because Kamala’s campaign allegedly spent more money than they raised. There’s a rumored debt but it’s not clear how much. One report on Newsweek talked about her campaign being almost $20 million in debt, but it was NOT confirmed. An article on AP spoke about her asking for donations after the election to cover any other expenses or debts, but again – the exact or approximate amount was not confirmed. So it remains unclear if Kamala Harris’ campaign is truly in debt, and if so, by how much.

Kamala Harris’s campaign spending was extensive and varied. Here are some notable expenditures:

Media and Advertising: The largest portion of her campaign funds went to media buys and ad production, totaling over $1.38 billion. This included payments to companies like Media Buying & Analytics and Bully Pulpit Interactive.

Event Production: Harris’s campaign spent millions on event production, including payments to companies owned by celebrities. For example, Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, received $165,000. Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions was paid $1 million.

Outreach and Engagement: The campaign invested in connecting with diverse communities. This included payments to black barbershops and e-sports teams. For instance, Philly Cuts Barbershop received $20,000 for a campaign video, and Team Liquid, an e-sports team, was paid $22,000.

Salaries and Administrative Costs: A significant amount was also spent on salaries and administrative costs, totaling over $165 million.

Celebrity Appearances: The campaign paid for events featuring celebrities like Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, and former President Barack Obama. These events were part of the campaign’s efforts to boost Harris’s profile and connect with voters.

If you want to, please enjoy watching this video of Kamala Harris talking about Donald Trump’s rhetoric, which the American people favor over her word salads.