- Democrats are reportedly still upset following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Democratic Party officials said a party rebuild is proving difficult as fewer people are donating.
- According to The Hill, Democratic donors both big and small are holding back, still angry about November’s election results and unenthused by anything their party has brought to the table since.
- Democratic donors told the news outlet, they’re not willing to pay for “no message” and “no forward-thinking.”
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Democratic voters are still upset following President Donald Trump’s win and return to the White House. This has caused party officials to face challenges as they try to rebuild the party due to fewer people donating.
What are Democratic donors saying?
According to The Hill on Monday, Feb. 24, Democratic donors both big and small are holding back. Many said they’re still angry about November’s election results and unenthused by anything their party has brought to the table since.
Democratic donors told the news outlet, they’re not willing to pay for “no message” and “no forward-thinking.”
Why are they frustrated?
Much of the frustration stems from Democratic supporters who said they feel misled by the party following former President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance. The debate ultimately led to Biden dropping out of the race.
Donors also believed the campaign employed an outdated strategy, reminiscent of the unsuccessful one used against Trump in 2016. They said that was even an issue after former Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee.
What else could be causing a slowdown in donations?
Democratic Strategist Steve Schale acknowledged that “there is genuine frustration.” He attributed the lack of donations to fatigue from the latest election cycle.
Adding to funding troubles, charitable organizations that often support Democratic causes like voting rights, LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights are also pulling back support as they reportedly expect investigations from the Republican-led U.S. Congress.
According to The New York Times, slowdowns in fundraising are typical after a presidential defeat and before midterm races kick into full gear.
Could it signal a larger problem?
More than 50 Democratic donors told The Times, they feel this year is different. Some donors said they fear retribution from the Trump administration. Other Democratic donors have said they plan to work more closely with the president during his second term.
