In March, Former President Donald J. Trump turned to major Republican donors to boost his campaign and close the financial gap with President Biden, according to new federal filings released on Monday.
Throughout the race, Trump had relied on small donors, especially those contributing less than $200 online. However, as Biden and the Democrats gained fundraising momentum, big donors began contributing to Trump’s campaign.
In the last two weeks of March, a committee supporting Trump raised nearly $18 million, mostly from six-figure donations. Trump and the Republican Party collectively had $93 million on hand by the end of the month, having raised over $65 million in March.
Despite the recent surge in donations, Republicans are still behind. Biden and the Democratic Party raised over $187 million in the first quarter of the year, ending March with $192 million on hand.
The joint fundraising committees for Trump and Biden have been the primary source of fundraising for both campaigns. These committees transfer funds to the campaigns and help build national campaign operations.
Top donors to Trump’s campaign included Seth MacFarlane, Reid Hoffman, and George Conway. The reporting period also included Biden’s successful fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall, which brought in $25 million.
Trump’s joint fundraising committee with the Republican National Committee raised $23.6 million in the quarter, with significant contributions from donors like Robert Mercer. The fundraising agreement directs a portion of the contributions to a PAC that covers Trump’s legal expenses.
Other major donors to Trump’s campaign included Roger William Norman, Robert T. Bigelow, Jeffrey C. Sprecher, Kelly Loeffler, Joe Ricketts, Linda McMahon, Phil Ruffin, and Woody Johnson. Trump’s Save America joint fundraising committee raised $65.8 million in the first quarter of 2024.
