Major Democratic donors are turning away from a high-profile San Francisco fundraiser for former Vice President Kamala Harris, leaving the DNC scrambling and exposing deep frustration over money, strategy, and accountability. Reporters say donors either declined outright or demanded a clear plan to win before they’d open their checkbooks, and the party ultimately raised far less than expected. The cash gap between the DNC and the RNC is real, and insiders blame a mix of spending complaints and a lack of post-election follow-through.
People who know the situation say the DNC reached out to top donors to host and attend the San Francisco event, and many declined. Some told the party they already had commitments, while others said they wanted concrete, winning plans before writing big checks. Donor fatigue and frustration with vague promises have left the party hunting for both hosts and substantial donations.
“Upon receiving the invitation, one replied with a profanity-laced rejection,” the report read. That blunt refusal has become shorthand for a deeper problem: established supporters who feel taken for granted and are ready to vote with their wallets. The message from several major donors was the same — prove you can win or don’t expect their money.
The DNC did find someone to host the fundraiser, but the haul fell short of expectations. That shortfall matters because the party’s operating cash now looks weak compared with the Republican National Committee. Cash on hand figures tell a simple story: money follows confidence, and right now the DNC is showing less of it.
A top official at a national Democratic group said some donors remain angry about how their money was spent in last year’s presidential election by outside groups, including on what they see as excessive salaries for Washington, D.C., consultants. The official said the party has failed to complete a public post election investigation into what went wrong in 2024.
What that quote makes plain is donors are not just uneasy; they’re angry about priorities. They object to perceived waste, especially large payouts to consultants and outside groups while internal accountability goes missing. Without a transparent post-election review, trust evaporates and the checks dry up.
Public figures in the party now face a choice: pivot away from controversial policy moves that alienate swing voters or fully embrace a more progressive agenda that doubles down on cultural and social positions. Pushing harder on divisive stances risks making the party less attractive to moderate donors and voters who decide on practical results rather than ideological purity. Recent signals suggest the leadership is leaning toward energizing the progressive base, despite the fundraising consequences.
The numbers underscore the problem. Reporters note the DNC has roughly $12 million in cash on hand, versus the RNC’s roughly $86 million. That gap gives Republicans a financial edge in mobilization, advertising, and on-the-ground operations. For donors who want to stop President Trump, the question becomes whether the party will match rhetoric with a disciplined strategy that actually wins.
Insiders also say the party’s refusal to publicly investigate last year’s failures remains a sore point. Donors want clear answers about where money went and what will change, and without that level of scrutiny they’re withholding larger investments. That dynamic forces the DNC into defensive fundraising that yields smaller returns and higher scrutiny.
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