Democratic donors are expressing growing frustration with the state of their party.
After losing the Senate majority last year and failing to regain control of the House, they’ve voiced concerns about a lack of leadership and a cohesive message from Democrats.
Current numbers indicate a decline in Democratic donors compared to their Republican counterparts, yet many are feeling drawn back into the fray by the familiar antagonism of former President Trump.
“Trust me, it’s not because they have this overwhelming affection for the party right now,” one donor shared. “There’s still a lot of disappointment. We seem stuck, and honestly, no one’s excited about anything.”
“But I think folks realize that if we don’t act, we might just hand control back to Trump,” they added.
In recent discussions, donors pointed to the rising threat to free speech as a primary motivator for starting to contribute again.
Some were particularly taken aback by Trump’s recent behavior towards late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Others were equally unsettled by actions from the Trump administration, including controversial statements linking Tylenol to autism and tougher immigration policies.
“Every day, it feels like things are getting worse,” one donor remarked.
A donor from California noted that even others who had hesitations about the state of politics began opening their wallets again.
This donor described the party as “incompetent, arrogant, isolated, and deaf.”
“Right now, there’s a real lack of confidence in the party,” they said, adding that they haven’t necessarily written checks to the party itself, but rather to individual causes and candidates.
After last year’s defeats, many Democrats were understandably hesitant to contribute.
In fact, recent filings reveal that the Republican National Committee (RNC) has greatly outpaced the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in fundraising, with totals of approximately $15 million for the DNC compared to $84 million for the RNC.
John Morgan, a well-known Democratic donor and injury lawyer, has recently written checks for re-election efforts for Georgia Sen. John Ossoff and other candidates, including North Carolina’s Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for a state Senate seat.
However, he has set specific boundaries for his support.
“We’ll only fund Democrats who aren’t self-identified democratic socialists,” Morgan stated. “And I don’t give to the Democratic Senate Election Committee, just to individuals.”
“Giving large sums to those who spend like ‘drunk sailors’ just isn’t appealing,” he added.
There are a few encouraging signs for Democrats in fundraising, though. Earlier this month, frontrunner Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral race hit a funding cap of $8 million, mostly from small donations.
“We can’t accept any more money,” Mamdani told supporters in a video message. “Seriously, you need to stop.”
However, Mamdani is somewhat of an unusual case—he’s a democratic socialist and is viewed as an outsider even within parts of the Democratic Party. Notably, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) hasn’t endorsed him yet.
Other Democratic candidates have not experienced the same fundraising success as Mamdani.
Furthermore, polling reflects the sentiments of donors, showing that many Americans believe Republicans are more attuned to pressing issues like crime, immigration, and the economy.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, Republicans are currently outperforming Democrats across various metrics, even as Trump’s approval rating dipped to 41%.
A Kinnipiac University survey also reported disheartening news for Democrats, revealing that support for the party is at a low point.
Only 30% of voters expressed favorable opinions of Democrats, while 54% had unfavorable views.
“This marks the lowest approval rating for Democrats since Kinnipiac began tracking this in 2008,” the report noted.
The picture isn’t entirely rosy for Republicans either. Only 38% of surveyed individuals viewed the Republican Party positively, while 51% had unfavorable opinions.
Despite this, Democratic leaders are understandably concerned about the voting landscape and have sought to downplay adverse polling results.
While Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) acknowledged that Democrats are struggling, he asserted, “We may be low, but we’re still better off than Republicans. In some races with just two candidates, we win.”
Some Democratic strategists admit it may take time for donors and voters to trust the party again.
“The past five years have included many events that have strained the Democratic brand,” noted strategist Joel Payne, mentioning concerns about President Biden’s age and his decision to seek re-election.
“Rebuilding trust involves a process, especially after events that have significantly damaged faith in the party,” he added.
One donor concluded that it could be a long journey before the party regains its footing with contributors.
“Donald Trump seems to be the only thing motivating my contributions right now,” they said.
